Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Eastern Marine Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen inter-agency collaboration to curb drug trafficking along Nigeria’s waterways.
This followed a courtesy visit by the NDLEA Rivers State Commander, Commander of Narcotics, CN Bature Bawa, to the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Anderson Jaja, in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Joshua Iliya, discussions during the meeting centred on strengthening operational synergy, intelligence sharing and joint strategies aimed at disrupting illicit drug movement within the maritime domain.
The statement noted that the NDLEA commander reiterated the agency’s readiness to support collaborative enforcement efforts and offered access to its rehabilitation facility in Port Harcourt, while also proposing joint sensitization programmes to educate officers on drug prevention and control.
Responding, Comptroller Jaja underscored the longstanding working relationship between the NCS and the NDLEA, stressing that enhanced cooperation remains critical to safeguarding the nation’s waterways from criminal activities.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to a closer partnership with the anti-narcotics agency, in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, whose administration prioritises collaboration, consolidation, and innovation to strengthen national security and trade integrity.
According to the statement, the engagement is part of ongoing efforts by both agencies to reinforce coordinated enforcement frameworks and improve intelligence-driven operations across Nigeria’s maritime corridors.
