Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), has directed the Customs Police Unit to develop clear rules for arrests, detentions, evidence handling and the use of artificial intelligence in investigations, as the Nigeria Customs Service seeks to strengthen enforcement without compromising legality or public trust.
Speaking at the inaugural Customs Police Summit in Abuja, Adeniyi said the unit must become the guardian of the Service’s integrity at a time when criminal networks are using legitimate trade routes and digital channels to move firearms components, narcotics, fake medicines, protected wildlife and illicit funds.
“Customs must facilitate legitimate trade and stop illicit trade, and it can do neither without a disciplined and trusted police unit to uphold its own standards,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs chief asked the summit to produce a doctrine anchored in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Revised Arusha Declaration. He also asked participants to develop protocols for joint operations, evidence management and information exchange, as well as guidance on the responsible use of data and artificial intelligence.
Adeniyi said the Service’s enforcement powers must be exercised with restraint. While the NCS Act 2023 gives Customs police powers, he said every search, arrest and detention must rest on lawful grounds and withstand public and judicial scrutiny.
“Authority requires restraint,” he said. “The NCS Act 2023 gives us police powers, but every search, arrest and detention must rest on lawful grounds and withstand public and judicial scrutiny.”
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He said the Customs Police Unit, inaugurated in July 2019 to investigate erring personnel, prevent crime and ensure compliance, must turn good practice into lasting doctrine. That would include clear procedures for arrest, detention and investigation, court-ready case files and professional development from recruitment to leadership.
Adeniyi said Customs cannot confront increasingly sophisticated criminal networks alone. He called for closer cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Department of State Services, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service.
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“No single institution can defeat illicit trade alone, and partnership rests on trust earned through our own conduct,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also urged the summit to make recommendations on the training, welfare and recognition of Customs Police personnel. He said technology, including artificial intelligence, advanced scanners, geospatial tools and electronic cargo tracking, should improve investigations, but must not replace legal safeguards.
“Algorithms may flag risks, but only officers acting within the law can exercise enforcement powers, with audit trails, data protection and human oversight at every step,” Adeniyi said.
Adeniyi said data had become one of Customs’ most valuable assets, supporting intelligence-led operations, joint border operations and mutual administrative assistance. He argued that smarter enforcement, rather than harder one, would allow officers to focus on genuine risks while reducing opportunities for corruption and abuse.
“Consolidation without innovation leads to stagnation. Innovation without consolidation creates disorder. Both need collaboration to succeed,” he said.
Adeniyi told Customs Police officers to preserve what was working, correct what was not and build the institution needed for the future. He said the red beret worn by officers carried the trust of Nigerians and the reputation of the Service.
“Keep what is right, repair what is not, and build what comes next,” he said. “Integrity remains the greatest badge you carry.”
Navy Captain Y.J. Sadu, Deputy Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Navy and head of its Special Investigation Group, said security threats increasingly crossed borders, jurisdictions and operational boundaries, making inter-agency cooperation essential.
“No single agency can address these challenges effectively in isolation,” Sadu said.
He said technology would continue to change security operations, but that its value would depend on the integrity and competence of the personnel using it.
Sadu urged Customs and other agencies to invest in training that develop not only technical skills, but also leadership, ethical judgement and respect for lawful procedures.
“Discipline, however, must be understood as more than punishment,” he said. “It includes prevention, guidance, supervision, fairness and the consistent application of standards.”
Sadu said the Nigerian Navy and Customs had distinct mandates, but could cooperate more effectively in the maritime environment through respect for those mandates, timely communication and lawful information-sharing.
Bala Ahmed Mohammed, head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) provost unit, said professionalism depended on standard protocols. He said every investigation, arrest, search, interview and prosecution must follow clearly defined procedures, including respect for suspects’ rights, lawful conduct, proper documentation, preservation of evidence and a transparent chain of command.
“Discipline and adherence to standard operating procedures protect officers, strengthen cases in court and sustain public trust,” Mohammed said.
He warned that fragmented intelligence benefits offenders, and urged security agencies to build analytical capacity, adopt data-driven risk profiling and create secure channels for sharing information.
“No single agency can defeat organised, networked crime alone. Fragmented intelligence benefits only the offender,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed also called for emotional intelligence to be built into training and promotion criteria, alongside welfare and counselling support for personnel. He said the EFCC was ready to partner with Customs and other agencies on joint training and capacity-building in financial investigation, asset tracing, digital forensics and electronic evidence handling.
“The success of this summit will be measured by what follows it,” Mohamed said.
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Onyinye Nwachukwu is the Abuja Bureau Chief of BusinessDay, overseeing coverage across Abuja and Northern Nigeria. With more than two decades of experience in economic and financial journalism, she reports on business, policy, and market trends, linking local developments to the global economy. A fellow of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and recipient of the P. Vishwanathan Memorial Award for Excellence in Financial Journalism, she is known for her insightful storytelling and interviews with senior policymakers, diplomats, and business leaders. Well traveled and globally minded, Onyinye brings depth and international perspective to her reporting.
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