The United Nations Habitat has planned to train over Fifty personnel of the Nigerian Customs Service on digital literacy Skills to boost border security
The United Nations Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria, Raymond Edoh started this during a courtesy call to the Ag Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Edoh who congratulated the Ag Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service on his appointment, commended the President of Nigeria; Bola Tinubu for appointing one of the best in the custom the head the organization.
Edoh further stressed the need for the UN-Habitat to partner with the Nigeria customs service in the area of smuggling and Digital literacy training in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.
“The United Nations Habitat and youths of the country are willing to give every necessary support to Adeniyi to make sure that he succeeds in driving and achieving the goals of the organisation”, said Edoh.
He said The United Nations Habitat has sought for partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service to stem the flow of illegal arms, drugs and smuggling through its borders.
“There is a need to curtail smuggling most especially among the youths as they constitute 99% of smugglers”.
Edoh further said the UN Habitat will be embarking on an awareness campaign on smuggling to the 36 States of the Federation which is aimed at enlightening the youths on the risks of smuggling which is aimed at discouraging them.
Dr Edoh however urged the Ag Controller General of the Nigerian customs on the need to bring back the gating system patrol of the Customs across border stations
‘’ I am urging the youths of this to cooperate with us in curtailing the proliferation of arms across the borders of this country, allowing smuggling, We will make efforts in partnership with the customs services to monitor what comes to the country in order to stop the collapse of the nation’’.
The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi commended the UN Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria; Raymond Edoh for raising issues that are crucial for any modern Custom Administration.
Speaking on the proposed training of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service by the United Nations Habitat, the Ag Comptroller General noted that no effort will be spared in getting their officers well-equipped for effective service delivery.
“We don’t have a very efficient structured Cyber Security Unit because we do know that operations that this is a very important aspect of our operations that we must take very important”.
The acting controller further advised Nigerians to desist from smuggling and should make more efforts to produce and patronise their products for the development of the country.
While appreciating the gesture of the UN-Habitat, the acting controller further assured that his agency will take advantage of the training programmes by the UN-Habitat to improve the capacity of their personnel.
“we will evaluate it and determine relevance to our situation and then have a conversation regarding how we can take advantage of it,” Comptroller Bashir said.
‘’ We value partnership and I am happy that you are extending this hand of partnership across to us and we will be willing to accept to work with you and this is something we have also given pride of place.
Dominica Nwabufo
