In a bold step toward fortifying border security and enhancing regional enforcement capabilities, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in strategic alliance with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially inaugurated the inaugural WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) for the West African sub-region.
The historic capacity-building programme commenced on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Abuja, attracting Customs personnel from across West Africa. The week-long session is designed to empower participants with the latest technical skills and knowledge required to deploy geospatial technologies effectively in border surveillance, data analysis, and threat detection.
Declaring the training programme open, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the strategic importance of embracing advanced technologies such as geospatial intelligence to strengthen border control, facilitate legitimate trade, and tackle rising cross-border criminal activities, including smuggling, arms trafficking, and illicit drug movements.
“This marks the culmination of almost ten years of persistent collaboration and innovative thinking,” CGC Adeniyi stated. “Thanks to the support from WCO and JICA, Nigeria has earned recognition as a front-runner in GEOINT capacity development within the region. This honour also confers a responsibility on us—to lead by example and continue enhancing our operational capabilities in line with global standards.”
He further noted that with the exponential growth in international trade, border management is becoming more complex, as criminal syndicates continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated tactics to bypass security protocols. According to him, the changing dynamics of global trade networks demand equally robust and technologically advanced responses from Customs administrations.
Representing the WCO at the launch, Motohiro Fujimitsu described the initiative as a “critical turning point” in West Africa’s border management strategy. He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for taking the lead in leveraging geospatial tools to address the unique challenges of the region’s often-porous borders. Fujimitsu stressed that the training would significantly boost the capacity of Customs officers to proactively monitor, analyse, and respond to real-time threats using spatial data and intelligence mapping techniques.
On his part, JICA Chief Representative in Nigeria, Yuzurio Susumu, reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing commitment to supporting Nigeria and its neighbours in building secure, resilient, and technology-driven border infrastructures. He reiterated that geospatial intelligence offers a transformative pathway for Customs operations, especially in regions grappling with complex transnational security threats.
In a heartfelt vote of thanks, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, who oversees the Strategic Research and Policy Department, urged participants to absorb the knowledge and practical insights being shared during the training. He encouraged them to return to their respective countries with renewed vigour and a shared commitment to safeguarding national frontiers through cutting-edge tools and collaborative intelligence sharing.
The launch of this high-level training programme not only signals a new era for Customs operations in West Africa but also highlights Nigeria’s growing leadership role in championing technology-driven solutions in regional security and trade facilitation.
