Arms Proliferation : NCCSALW partners Customs in Niger/Kogi to curb the menace
Arms Proliferation : NCCSALW partners Customs in Niger/Kogi to curb the menace
…As Kokumo lauds NCS over sustained efforts against illicit arms trafficking
In a renewed commitment to safeguard national security, and curb the menace of arms smuggling, the
Director General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Rtd.) Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, mni, PhD, is forming a strategic alliance with the Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS.
Babatunde Kokumo also commended the Service for its commitment in combating proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons across the country.
Kokumo gave the commendation on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Controller, Niger/Kogi Area Command, Comptroller Mohammed Sani Umar, mni, at the Command Headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
Speaking during the engagement, NCCSALW Director General acknowledged the strategic and indispensable role of Customs in securing the nation’s borders and stemming illegal movement of arms, ammunition and other prohibited goods.
He described the Service as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s national security architecture and a dependable partner in the collective effort to combat transnational organised crime.
He emphasised that confronting the increasingly sophisticated networks behind illicit circulation of weapons requires robust inter-agency collaboration, seamless intelligence sharing, continuous capacity development and well-coordinated joint operations.
According to him, sustained synergy among security and law enforcement agencies is imperative to safeguarding lives and property, protecting critical national assets and consolidating peace, stability and national security.
Kokumo expressed particular appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, for his consistent support for inter-agency cooperation and commitment to the collective fight against proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
He lauded the CGC’s leadership in fostering institutional synergy among security and law enforcement agencies, noting that the Nigeria Customs Service had continued to distinguish itself through professionalism, operational vigilance and strategic collaboration in pursuit of the nation’s security objectives.
The NCCSALW boss further assured the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Centre’s determination to deepen its partnership with the NCS through sustained intelligence-led operations, information exchange, capacity building and other coordinated initiatives designed to frustrate illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition across Nigeria’s borders.
In his response, the Customs Area Controller, Niger/Kogi Area Command, Comptroller Mohammed Sani Umar, mni, expressed appreciation to the Director General and his delegation for the visit, describing the engagement as a significant step towards strengthening the collective resolve of both institutions to combat arms proliferation and other cross-border crimes.
He reaffirmed the Command’s readiness to work closely with NCCSALW in advancing national security, stressing that the NCS would continue to enforce government policies, secure the nation’s borders and support all lawful initiatives aimed at preventing proliferation of illicit weapons.
Comptroller Umar further stated that the Niger/Kogi Area Command would continue to refine its operational strategies, strengthen its intelligence-gathering mechanisms and deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sister security agencies to achieve more effective border management and enhanced national security.
The Area Controller also conveyed the appreciation of the officers and men of the Command to CGC Adeniyi for his visionary leadership, unwavering institutional support and sustained efforts to reposition the Service for greater efficiency, professionalism and inter-agency cooperation in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
The visit provided an opportunity for both institutions to deliberate on areas of mutual interest and identify practical avenues for deepening cooperation in intelligence gathering, information sharing, personnel capacity development and coordinated enforcement operations.
The engagement culminated in a renewed commitment by the NCCSALW and the Nigeria Customs Service to intensify their partnership towards building a safer and more secure Nigeria. Both institutions resolved to sustain concerted efforts in arms control, border security and intelligence-led enforcement, recognising that a cohesive inter-agency response remains indispensable to dismantling the networks that facilitate illicit movement of small arms and light weapons.
