The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dissolved the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) after due consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
This operation, which commenced in 2019 with a code name ‘Ex-Swift Response’ and later evolved into the JBPT, was initially designed to enforce the partial border closure policy.
In a statement on Tuesday, NCS’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada assured that the measures would not compromise border security or trade facilitation. “Rather, they represent a significant step towards modernising customs operations, improving trade compliance, and strengthening national security”, he said.
According to the NCS, the JBPT has played a pivotal role in curbing the influx of dangerous goods and ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s trade and security regulations. “The NCS acknowledges and deeply appreciates the cooperation and dedication of other government agencies that partnered in this endeavour. Their invaluable contributions have been instrumental in safeguarding Nigeria’s land borders.
NCS explained that the reduction of customs checkpoints across the country is to streamline operations and ease the movement of goods and persons.
With the new arrangement, customs operations will rely more on actionable intelligence and strategic risk management frameworks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Maiwada said that this is part of efforts to strengthen border management, and remove bottlenecks associated with trade. It it also aimed at strengthening border security, combating smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade.
He said that NCS is deploying geospatial tools and advanced technologies to ensure the effectiveness of its enforcement strategies. “This development underscores the service’s commitment to leveraging innovative, intelligence-driven approaches for effective border enforcement and anti-smuggling operations”, he further said.
