In a landmark meeting held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ headquarters in Lagos, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Customs Mohammed Babandede warmly hosted Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Festus Chinedu Oko (psc)of the Maritime Police Command, Lagos.
This high-level courtesy visit was a pivotal moment aimed at deepening inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Police Force.
AIG Okon’s Warm Words
AIG Festus Oko took a moment to commend the Nigeria Customs Service for its unwavering dedication, professionalism in trade facilitation, and crucial role in protecting lives.
He underscored that the service’s role in revenue collection and trade facilitation remains absolutely pivotal to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and stability.
ACG Babandede’s Powerful Remarks
Speaking during the visit, Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’, ACG Mohammed Babandede, praised the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and his management team for their continued commitment to legitimate service delivery.
Babandede emphasized that the Nigeria Customs Service remains a partner in progress, expertly balancing trade facilitation with stringent enforcement of fiscal policies.
He passionately declared, “We cannot afford to let procedural overlaps hinder our economic rebirth!”.
Key Commitments
Both esteemed leaders recommitted to:
Real-time intelligence sharing to bolster security and trade efficiency.
Joint protocols to prevent duplicate inspections and streamline processes.
Collaborative frameworks ensuring security measures complement rather than complicate trade facilitation.
Official Details
Reported by AKANINYENE EDEMINAM, Chief Superintendent of Customs & Zonal Public Relations Officer, Zone ‘A’, Lagos.
Date: October 20, 2025.
This historic meet marks a significant stride towards seamless inter-agency cooperation, promising enhanced security, smoother trade flows, and robust economic growth for Nigeria.
