By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Saturday, 7 February 2026, took Nigeria Customs Service’ stakeholder engagement drive to a symbolic height with a historic visit to the Emir of Gwandu, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Bashar, reaffirming the Service’s belief that effective border governance is anchored not only on enforcement but also on trust, dialogue, and community partnership.
The visit to the Emir’s palace in Kebbi State marked a deliberate effort by the Customs leadership to strengthen collaboration with traditional institutions, particularly in border regions where community influence remains pivotal to maintaining peace, curbing smuggling, and promoting lawful trade. Accompanied by senior officers of the Service, including retired Deputy Comptroller-General Bello Mohammed Jibo and retired Assistant Comptroller-General Samba Dangaladima—both prominent indigenes serving under the Gwandu Emirate—the CGC’s presence underscored the strategic importance the Service places on inclusive security management.
Speaking during the engagement, CGC Adeniyi described the visit as a critical component of the Nigeria Customs Service’s stakeholder partnership framework, stressing that sustainable border management cannot be achieved by enforcement agencies alone. He noted that traditional rulers occupy a unique position of influence and moral authority within border communities, making them indispensable allies in sensitising residents, discouraging smuggling, and fostering trust between local populations and security agencies.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustained dialogue and close collaboration with the Kebbi Emirate Council and host communities, emphasising that collective responsibility remains central to curbing smuggling and other cross-border crimes that threaten national security and economic stability.
In his response, the Emir of Gwandu commended the Comptroller-General and his delegation for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of respect for traditional institutions and a recognition of their role in national development. The monarch pledged the continued support of the Emirate Council to the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies operating in the state, while urging residents of border communities to cooperate with authorities by providing timely and credible information to combat smuggling and related criminal activities.
Beyond the palace engagement, the CGC proceeded to the Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, where he inspected ongoing ultra-modern infrastructure projects designed to enhance operational efficiency and improve personnel welfare. In a significant highlight of the visit, he commissioned the Bashir Adewale Adeniyi E-Learning Centre, a facility aimed at strengthening capacity building and continuous professional development, as well as a newly constructed five-aside football pitch named in honour of retired Deputy Comptroller-General Bello Mohammed Jibo.
Addressing officers and men of the Command, CGC Adeniyi charged them to uphold discipline, professionalism, and integrity in the discharge of their duties, describing Kebbi as a strategically vital border Command with dual importance for revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations. He warned against any compromise in transit procedures, stressing that all goods must move strictly through approved corridors, particularly in light of the Command’s exposure to smuggling networks.
The Comptroller-General noted that Kebbi State remains a critical corridor exploited by smugglers and economic saboteurs, especially for the illegal export of petroleum products, a development that necessitated the deployment of special operations in the area. He disclosed that he had conveyed the President’s approval for the reopening of the Tsamiya border, reminding officers that the reopening comes with heightened responsibility to ensure that transit goods are not diverted into the domestic market.
He further emphasised the importance of inter-agency cooperation and cross-border collaboration in tackling smuggling, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of organised crime, while assuring personnel of improved welfare packages and the sustained deployment of technology to boost operational effectiveness.
The visit ended on a symbolic and morale-boosting note as the Comptroller-General joined officers and senior Customs officials in a friendly football match at the newly commissioned five-aside pitch, reinforcing camaraderie, unity of purpose, and esprit de corps within the Kebbi Area Command.
