The Nigerian Army has called for stronger institutional cooperation with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), stressing that coordinated operations, timely intelligence sharing and joint enforcement are essential to addressing security threats and protecting public health.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, made the call while receiving the Comptroller of Immigration, Oyo State Command, Comptroller Ephraim Ogbemudia, and the NAFDAC Zonal Director for the South-West, Dr Isaac Anjorin Kolawole, during separate visits to the Division’s Headquarters at Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.
The Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed that the GOC emphasised the need for sustained cooperation, noting that no single agency could effectively tackle the country’s security challenges in isolation.
Major General Mahmuda said stronger institutional relationships would improve operational effectiveness and help agencies respond more effectively to criminal activities.
He also urged the visiting officials to maintain cordial relations with host communities to encourage residents to provide credible information to security agencies.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Links Security Expansion to Economic Prosperity
The GOC assured both agencies of the Division’s continued support, stressing that effective partnerships remained essential to safeguarding lives and property.
Comptroller Ogbemudia commended the Nigerian Army for its efforts in addressing security challenges in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. He thanked the GOC and troops of 2 Division for their commitment and service, noting that the challenges required a coordinated response from relevant agencies.
He explained that the NIS visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation in intelligence sharing, border security, enforcement and community relations. Comptroller Ogbemudia also advocated an effective platform for information exchange and called for a public-friendly approach that would encourage residents to report suspicious activities without fear.
Dr Kolawole commended the Army for its continued support for NAFDAC’s regulatory activities, particularly efforts to protect Nigerians from counterfeit medicines, unsafe food products and other substandard regulated goods.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that medicines, food products and other regulated items meet the required safety and quality standards.
The NAFDAC zonal director also sought continued support in enforcing applicable Federal Government regulations, including restrictions on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and certain small-volume plastic bottles. He stressed that cooperation with security agencies was necessary to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance.
