in tackling smuggling on territorial waters
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has strengthened collaboration and sought the support of the Nigeria Navy to maintain its presence in Nigeria's territorial waters against smugglers.
CGC Adeniyi, who visited the Naval Dockyard in Lagos on Thursday, 16 November 2023, stated that the Nigerian Navy has the capacity and knowledge to maintain the NCS fleet of Vessels.
"We don't need to establish a vessel maintenance unit; it's capital intensive, but we have an agency of government that has the knowledge, that has the capacity and there's the willingness for them to assist us," he said
To him, Nigeria Customs Service is ready to tap into the capacity that exists in the Naval Dockyard by entering into agreement with the Navy so that it can help manage the maintenance of it's fleets.
"I have seen and marveled by the capacity that exists here in the Naval Dockyard and we believe that we could tap into that capacity and enter into some agreement with you so that you could manage the maintenance of our fleets." He emphasized.
The CGC stressed that fortifying the NCS' presence in Nigeria's coastal waters will reduce smuggling activities to the barest minimum.
"If we block the land borders effectively and do not maintain a very strong presence on our territorial waters, smugglers will take advantage, so we also need to fortify and enhance our presence to checkmate those who may want to try smuggling through our waters." He stated.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Naval Dockyard Ltd., Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, maintained that the Naval dockyard has a significant role in vessel maintenance, repairs and even Shipbuilding.
"Naval dockyard is well poised to take advantage of situations like this, and we see the Nigeria Customs Service as a powerful ally of the Nigerian Navy.
"The capacity is here and the excess capacity can be used to support other agencies, the larger maritime community and the shipping world as a whole." He maintained.
