Customs dissolves joint border patrol team, reduces checkpoints

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Customs checkpoints 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dissolved its joint border patrol team (JBPT).

The decision was made following appropriate consultation with the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), according to a statement released on Tuesday by NCS national public relations officer Abdullahi Maiwada.

"It was also part of the NCS's efforts to reinvigorate its 2025 enforcement strategy and strengthen border management," he added.

Once an ex-swift response team, the JBPT, which is coordinated by the ONSA, is now a tripartite operation that includes Nigeria, Niger Republic, and Benin Republic.

Combating smuggling, irregular migration, and other transnational organised crimes along the country's borders were among the duties assigned to the patrol team.

According to Maiwada, the team's disbandment is a major step towards modernising customs operations, enhancing trade compliance, and bolstering national security rather than jeopardising border security or trade facilitation.

The NCS claimed that the action was a component of its "2025 enforcement strategy."

“This strategy is aimed at removing bottlenecks associated with trade, strengthening border security, combating smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade,” he said.

Maiwada also mentioned that in order to simplify operations and facilitate the flow of people and goods, NCS Comptroller-General (CG), Adewale Adeniyi, had authorised the closing of customs checkpoints nationwide.

Adeniyi said the NCS would rely more on intelligence, according to the statement.

“Moving forward, customs operations will rely more on actionable intelligence and strategic risk management frameworks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness,” the statement quoted the CG as saying.

“Also, the service is deploying geospatial tools and advanced technologies to ensure the effectiveness of NCS enforcement strategies.

“This development underscores the service’s commitment to leveraging innovative, intelligence-driven approaches for effective border enforcement and anti-smuggling operations.”

The statement commended the efforts of the JBPT and emphasised the NCS’ commitment to improving border security