NCS Ogun Command Hosts Cross Border Security Summit

LUCKY LAWAL

The Nigeria Customs Service and other security operatives at Idiroko border engaged Benin Republic security operatives and concerned communities at Idiroko, Igolo border in order to strengthen and improve on their collaborative and cooperative efforts in tacking insecurity, smuggling, drugs, human trafficking and other crime related offences.

The Igolo/Idiroko joint border security summit was hosted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and her sister agencies in Nigeria on Thursday 27th June, 2019.

Speaking at the summit, the Customs Area Controller of Ogun Command, Michael Agbara, said that the summit was to interact, wine and dine as well as explore issues that will foster the collective growth of Nigeria and Benin Republic. He also reminded various government operatives at the meeting of the importance of protecting lives, properties and facilitating legitimate trade between both countries.

Agbara added that the summit is also in line with directive from Controller General of Customs on improved and sustained inter agency collaboration. He also stated that the challenges of trans border crimes such as arms smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking and terrorism must be tackled headlong.

The CAC said it is important to lay more emphasis on the need to reinvigorate and sustain the forum which will evidently guarantee more effective management of our borders as enshrined in a systematic and strategic concept of Coordinated Border Management (CBM) popularized by World Customs Organization (WCO).

According to him, the organization is geared towards a mutual relationship between nations sharing land borders. The concept has a wide spectrum of establishing seamless coordination between Nigeria security agencies working at various land borders and security agencies of neighbouring Countries so as to guarantee trade facilitation without jeopardizing national security.

Collaborating the CAC’s speech, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Idiroko Commander and Chairman of the planning committee of the summit, Mrs. Archie Abia Ibinabo, DCN, fsi, said the summit was to foster good relationship between the two countries.

She said,” We are vested with a special mandate, which is to protect the life and properties of our people and to promote the desired National security and economic objectives of our respective nations.

The NDLEA Commander also said the summit was also to show the rich culture of Nigeria, foster good relationship, play by the rule of the law and portray the national cooperation interest and collaboration as we need each other for progress, economic development and security.

Officials of Benin security agencies, who had earlier hosted a maiden version of the event, lauded the initiative as one that will be of immense benefits to both countries and their citizens.

Participants present at the summit were NCS, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Service, Nigeria Police, FRSC, NSCDC and their respective counterparts from Benin Republic.