The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Compt. BM Jibo, says it is the task of every Nigerian, not only those statutorily entrusted with the responsibility, to ensure that there is peace and stability in the country.
Compt Jibo made the observation, Tuesday, when students of the International Security Management Course 3 (ISMC) of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, visited the Seme Customs Area Command on a study tour.
The Seme Border visit was in continuation of this year’s programme of the Institute on the theme “Addressing Issues of Illicit Arms Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons”.
Addressing the visitors, Compt Jibo told them that as a lead agency at the border, the NCS has been on the vanguard of interagency collaboration and promotion of a good working relationship with other organizations as well as maintaining a mutually- beneficial relationship with the local communities. Thus, operationalizing the Joint Border Post (JBD) has been a lot easier, he stated.
“ We have a very good relationship with our host community, the traditional rulers, elders and youths. To ensure that we come closer to the host communities, we went around the communities and found out what they needed, and we tried to provide them.
“For instance, we provided toilet facilities to four communities including the one at the international travellers’ park at J5 in Seme Border.
“There was also Badagry United Football Club being facilitated by the NCS Seme Command. We equally encourage the locals to engage in legal businesses through sensitization programmes.
Through the joint Border Security Meeting (JBSM), the NCS ensures the presence of security agencies in the border environment by the way of organizing a SHOW OF FORCE at intervals.
Some of the challenges militating against effective policing of the borders, he pointed out, included porosity and abse
