ZAINAB JUNAID
In a bid to enhance border security through intensifying onslaught against smugglers, money launderers and other terrorism financing activities, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, had on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, met with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU delegation, led by Director General Hafsat Bakari, at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja.
CGC Adeniyi’s meeting with DG Bakari centred around sealing a strong partnership that will enable the two agencies to take measures of enhancing border security.
The CGC, while addressing the NFIU officials, congratulated DG Bakari for her appointment to head the organisation. He expressed Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to support NFIU by way of establishing a joint team that will be tasked to address some pressing issues.
“I want to wish you a successful tenure. I see, through your passion, your commitment to Project Nigeria, and I also see the collaborative spirit that you brought on board. These are all things that I share also because I believe that we can draw strength from each other, assist ourselves, and get things done.” the CGC said.
“We need to form an internal team that will be drawn up from our side to review those outstanding issues so that we begin to see, in a determined effort, what we can do,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the NFIU Director-General, Hafsat Bakari, applauded the NCS’s resilient commitment to safeguarding Nigerian borders, particularly in combating smuggling activities.
Emphasising the importance of information sharing, Mrs Bakari highlighted that her visit to the Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service is to establish a cordial relationship with the service in intelligence sharing.
She said, “We recognise the vital role of the NCS in protecting Nigeria’s borders, preventing the smuggling of illicit goods, but also in ensuring that those who import goods into our country pay the appropriate fees and levies that are due to the federal government.”
According to her, the ultimate goal of the NFIU was to ensure the safety and prosperity of Nigeria, adding that “we want to make sure that we have efficient systems processes and technologies in place to identify the smuggling of currency and other high-value items.
