In a bid to strengthen border management and enhance trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the dissolution of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and unveiled a revamped 2025 Enforcement strategy.
Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who announced this in a statement said the decision was taken after due consultatiom with the office of the National Security Advser.
The statement signed by Customs spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada on behalf of the Comptroller General said the new strategy aims to remove bottlenecks associated with trade, strengthen border security, combat smuggling, and facilitate legitimate trade.
As part of this effort, the Comptroller-General of Customs, has approved the reduction of customs checkpoints across the country to streamline operations and ease the movement of goods and persons.
He said the Service will now rely more on actionable intelligence and strategic risk management frameworks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Adeniyi said the NCS is also 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.
“The JBPT operation which commenced in 2019 with a code name “Ex-Swift Response” was initially designed to enforce the partial border closure policy. Since its inception, the JBPT has played a crucial 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 endeavor.Their invaluable contributions have been instrumental to safeguarding Nigeria’s land borders,” the statement said.
The NCS assured that the dissolution of the JBPT and other measures will not compromise border security or trade facilitation, instead, it represents a significant step towards modernizing customs operations, improving trade compliance, and strengthening national security.
The Comptroller-General of Customs while soliciting the support of all stakeholders in the fight against economic saboteurs, reiterated his commitment and that of his officers and men to securing the nation’s borders effectively, facilitating legitimate trade, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
