The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has restated its commitment to advancing border security through the integration of smart technologies, as it joined other African nations at the Africa Border Security Week held in Cape Town, South Africa.
The conference, which took place from May 6 to 7, 2025, brought together top-level border security officials, policymakers, and stakeholders from land, air, and maritime sectors across the continent. It served as a platform for discussing cutting-edge solutions to Africa’s evolving border management challenges, with emphasis on digital transformation, surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the high-level event was Comptroller Babatunde Olomu of the Apapa Area Command. He delivered a presentation that highlighted Nigeria’s strategic focus on intelligence-driven border management, leveraging geospatial tools, data analytics, and automated surveillance to combat smuggling and strengthen national security.
According to Comptroller Olomu, the Nigeria Customs Service has already begun implementing several innovative reforms in line with its 2025 enforcement strategy. A key part of this strategy includes the dissolution of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT), which was initially set up in 2019 as a regional initiative. The decision, he said, is aimed at streamlining operations, eliminating redundancies, and boosting efficiency in border enforcement.
He further noted that the Service is investing in modern technology to improve the monitoring of Nigeria’s vast and porous borders. This includes the deployment of drone surveillance, biometric systems, and risk-based inspection models that are expected to redefine the landscape of customs enforcement and facilitate legitimate trade.
Africa Border Security Week, organised by KGG Events, provided the opportunity for security agencies across the continent to share best practices and forge strategic alliances to address the continent’s complex border challenges. The event attracted senior officials from customs, immigration, police, ports authorities, and international agencies committed to regional stability and trade facilitation.
In his message, Comptroller-General Adeniyi reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to align with global best practices and remain at the forefront of smart border innovations in West Africa. He emphasized that technology must be at the heart of border control, especially in an era where security threats are increasingly transnational and dynamic.
Nigeria Customs’ participation in the conference reflects a broader national effort to secure the country’s borders, promote lawful commerce, and protect citizens from the threats of arms trafficking, terrorism, and other cross-border crimes.
The Service is expected to deepen its partnerships with international agencies and private sector actors to continue building a future-ready border control architecture that supports both security and economic development.
