VP Osinbajo Advocates Integration of Customs Into Security Architecture

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo says the number of fragile borders and convergence of fiscal and security issues at such borders call for the redefinition of the role of Customs services to be properly integrated into the security architecture.

Professor Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day World Customs Organisation, WCO, Global Conference themed: “Enabling Customs in Fragile and Conflict Affected Situation.”

He says, “the days of the customs service dedicated only to fiscal matters at the borders are long,” the vice president said “It is now imperative that national governments, where there are fragile borders or in post conflict situations must  invest intentionally in  infrastructure, and capacity building for their  Customs service personnel.”

He stated that fragile and conflict-affected states, FCS, especially in developing countries, must be assisted in acquiring relevant technology such as drones, sensors and other remote technologies to better track goods and enforce security.

Roburst Platforms

Vice President Osinbajo said it was necessary to enhance more robust platforms for intelligence and best practice sharing, and data exchange systems.

He commended the WCO for the “effort it has exerted over the years to achieve its vision of bringing diverse national Customs administrations together for the purpose of a safer and more prosperous world under the rubric of the mantra- Borders divide, Customs connects.

“Today, the WCO proudly boasts of 184 members and 6 regions including our own Nigeria Customs Service and the West and Central Africa Region.

“We must also acknowledge the creative ways that the WCO and its members have over the years coped with challenges of fostering  trade facilitation, revenue collection, protection of society and organizational development in today’s increasingly complex and dynamic environment.”

Osinbajo said border fragility was a major issue that affects the stability of many African states, adding that the UN states that there are more than 1,000 fragile borders in Africa, with roughly 600 between African countries.

“Customs management is of course a crucial component of managing fragile borders.

“Even before the global pandemic in 2020, fragile and conflict-affected states, FCS, faced extraordinary headwinds: institutional and social fragility, limited provision of rule of law and basic services to the population, climatic mishaps, an underdeveloped private sector and violent conflict that spilled across borderlines.

“For states classified as fragile and conflict-affected situations, the poignant mix of social, economic, political, governance, security and climatic factors had already created a perfect storm before the Covid-19 pandemic added an even more devastating dimension to tip things over.

“At the same time as some of the advanced economies provided trillions of dollars in spending programs and central bank asset purchases, many of the fragile and conflict-affected countries were confronted with high inflation, unemployment, food crisis, and the high cost of adapting to climate challenges that they did not create.

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali said fragility along border lands, mostly as a result of armed non-state actors, perpetrating conflicts and violence have challenged the state and its authority to regulate the movement of people and goods in line with economic and fiscal policies.

“Economic actors who cannot afford alternative routes persist in an informal trade regime that is regulated by these bad actors and exploited for political credibility, funding in the form of taxes, the movement of weapons and resources.

“This kind of trade regime fuels and sustains the existing crises, while these borders even in fragile situations maintain their roles as political, economic and symbolic resources,” he said.

The Secretary-General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya said that though customs facilitate trade, there are different types of trade and traders which must be regulated.

Participants from the 184 member countries of the WCO participate at the conference.

Confidence Okwuchi