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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Command, is building tighter intelligence-sharing partnerships with sister security agencies, a move aimed at protecting lawful trade and keeping cargo flowing through one of the South-South’s key trade corridors.
The Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller, Dr Nkiru Nwala, PhD, began the push on Tuesday, with familiarisation visits to the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Department of State Services (DSS).
She met with the NSCDC Commandant, C. E. Okarazu; the Controller of Corrections, Aniekan Archibong Nya; and the DSS State Director, Dr Faluyi Oluwole.
The visits, the first since Nwala assumed duty, were designed to open direct lines of communication and deepen institutional cooperation. The Command said the aim is a common front against shared security threats that can disrupt trade, raise costs for operators and erode investor confidence.
For importers, exporters and freight operators in the Calabar axis, the message is that closer coordination among enforcement agencies is means fewer security gaps, tighter enforcement against illicit trade and a more predictable environment for legitimate business.
According to the Command, the initiative reflects the Service’s commitment to inter-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations in discharging its statutory responsibilities.
It also aligns with the Comptroller-General of Customs’ strategic mantra of Consolidation, Innovation and Collaboration, which stresses strengthening existing partnerships, adopting progressive solutions to operational challenges and sustaining unity among security agencies.
The collaboration is expected to improve communication and coordination among the agencies, particularly in tackling common security concerns and ensuring effective enforcement of relevant laws.
