Seme Customs CAC, Dr Benedict Oramalugo (3rd from left) flanked by other officers during a visit to His Majesty, Oba Akran of Badagry recently.

The Customs Area Controller CAC, of the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Benedict Oramalugo has commenced moves aimed at boosting border security and synergy with the trading and host community with strategic visits to traditional rulers, military formations and other relevant sister agencies.

This is in tandem with the policy of the Service in ensuring a secure and conducive environment for legitimate trade through inclusivity and robust stakeholders’ engagement.

The CAC in line with these objectives led other top officers of the Seme Customs Command on a courtesy visit to Oba Akran of Badagry and the Oba of Ibekoro, which was an acknowledgement of traditional institutions’ roles in maintaining peace, stability and cooperation with the Service in achieving conducive environment for legitimate trade.

The team also visited top military formations and sister agencies which include the Nigeria Navy Forward Operation Base, Nigeria Army 243 RECCE Battalion Regiment, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria security and Civil Defense Corp and the Nigeria Immigration Service in Badagry.

Comptroller Ommalugo during the visits advocated the strengthening of intelligence sharing and more coordinated approach to tackling smuggling and other related border crimes.

According to him: “Effective stakeholder collaboration is the cornerstone for enhancing border security and national development which in turn optimises the nation’s revenue earnings.”

Comptroller Oramalugo also told the stakeholders, sister agencies and the local authorities that he is acting on the orders of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR in seeking synergy with them to succeed in the management of the nation’s border. He therefore called for their collaboration to enable the Service succeed in this regard in the overall interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He further assured that he would run an open door policy in tandem with the policy thrust of the CGC, which revolves around consolidation, motivation and collaboration.