Ahead Of Elections, Customs Raises Alarm, Seeks Tighter Security Synergy To Crush Criminal Networks
Ahead Of Elections, Customs Raises Alarm, Seeks Tighter Security Synergy To Crush Criminal Networks
…As Acting FOU Zone ‘A’ Controller DC Afeni Tours Police, Army, DSS, NDLEA, Immigration
By Success Okezie
The Acting Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, has called for a watertight synergy among security agencies to deny criminal elements the space to exploit the forthcoming general elections to destabilize the country.
DC Afeni issued the charge in Lagos during a high-level familiarisation tour of security and law enforcement formations, designed to forge stronger intelligence sharing, joint operations and a common front against smuggling, economic sabotage and trans-border crimes.
The strategic tour, which began on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, saw the Acting Comptroller and his team visit critical security headquarters, including the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, where he was warmly received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai; the Department of State Services (DSS); the Headquarters of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Strategic Command; the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja.
At the Police Command Headquarters, Afeni declared that the mandate of FOU Zone ‘A’ – the premier anti-smuggling arm of the Service in the South-West – extends far beyond seizure of contraband. He said the Unit remains a critical stakeholder in the nation’s internal security architecture.
He warned that election seasons in Nigeria are historically vulnerable periods where criminal syndicates, smugglers and unpatriotic elements attempt to cash in on political tension to unleash illicit activities capable of triggering violence and disrupting public peace.
“We know that crime rates often increase as the country approaches the election period, as some people may attempt to take advantage of the period to perpetrate illicit activities capable of causing crises during the elections. Therefore, we are here to call for closer synergy so that these bad elements do not have their way,” Afeni declared.
According to him, the complexity of emerging security threats makes it impossible for any single agency to win the war against crime in isolation. He stressed that intelligence-led enforcement and coordinated operations remain the only sustainable path to victory.
The Customs boss particularly lauded the intelligence capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, calling for sustained, real-time information exchange to detect and neutralise threats before they snowball into national crises.
In his response, CP Tijani Fatai described the visit as timely and strategic, noting that the robust relationship between the Police and Customs in Lagos has been a force multiplier in crime fighting.
“In Lagos, we have a very strong and robust relationship with all security agencies, notwithstanding the huge population of the state,” the Commissioner said, assuring Afeni of the Command’s unwavering support.
At the Headquarters of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, received the Acting Comptroller and harped on the need for jointness in tackling criminality.
General Babalola cautioned against bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay operational response, insisting that efficiency and speed remain critical in confronting threats to national security.
Across all the formations visited, the message was consistent: unity of purpose, seamless intelligence sharing and operational collaboration are non-negotiable if Nigeria must stay ahead of criminals.
The heads of the respective agencies reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining and deepening their partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service, pledging to work closely with FOU Zone ‘A’ to secure the nation’s economic gateways.
For Afeni and his team, the tour marks a new chapter of proactive enforcement – one that fuses aggressive anti-smuggling operations with strategic inter-agency diplomacy aimed at protecting national security, securing government revenue, facilitating legitimate trade and guaranteeing a peaceful atmosphere for the forthcoming elections.
Security analysts note that as the nation edges closer to the polls, it is this kind of deliberate collaboration that will close operational gaps, deny criminal networks freedom of action and reassure Nigerians of a secure electoral process.
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