Photo: CGC Adeniyi, right, with Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, MD/CEO, Naval Dockyard, during the former’s visit to the Dockyard in Lagos.
NCS, Navy to deepen inter-agency collaboration to curb smuggling
The Nigeria Customs Service says it will deepen collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to maintain its presence in Nigeria’s territorial waters with a view to curbing smuggling through territorial waters.
Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, made this known when he visited the Naval Dockyard in Lagos, a statement issued on Saturday by NCS spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada said.
He said that the CGC explained that fortifying the NCS’ presence in Nigeria’s coastal waters would 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 said.
According to Adeniyi, the Nigerian Navy also has the capacity and knowledge to maintain the fleet of vessels of the NCS.
“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.
“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,” Adeniyi said.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Naval Dockyard Ltd., Rear Admiral Abolaji Orederu, said the Dockyard plays a significant role in vessel maintenance, repairs and shipbuilding.
“The 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,” Orederu added.
