Customs Bows To Pressure; Dismantles Joint Border Patrol Team JBPT

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has dissolved its Joint  Border Patrol Team, JBPT, across the country.

This is even as the Comptroller General, CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , approved the immediate  reduction in the number of Customs Checkpoints on  border routes.

A statement on Tuesday December, 24 ,2024 by its National spokesperson, Abdullahi  Maiwada ACS ,informed that the decision to scale down the number of checkpoints is aimed at improving trade facilitations, particularly along the country’s borders.

However, the Service has assured that the new policy will never compromise the fight against smuggling and other unwholesome activities on the borders.

According to him, the move is part of a wider plan to strengthen border management as contained in the Service’s 2025 operational framework.

“This strategy is aimed at removing bottlenecks associated with trade, strengthening border security ,combating smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade .

Consequently, the Comptroller General of Customs ,CGC , Bashir Adewale Adeniyi ,has approved the reduction of Customs checkpoints across the country to streamline operations and ease the movement of goods and persons .

Moving forward , Customs operations will rely more on actionable intelligence and strategic risk management framework to enhance efficiency and effectiveness”, the statement noted.

The NCS, Maiwada noted, is deploying geospatial tools and advanced technologies to ensure the effectiveness of its enforcement strategies.

The development, he stated, underscores the Service’s commitment to leveraging innovative, intelligence-driven approaches for effective border enforcement and anti-smuggling.

The Source reports that over the years, there have been deafening public out- cry against the plethora of Customs Checkpoints that dot the country,’s border routes.

Most of the complains have centred on alleged extortionist tendencies and frustrations of legitimate trading activities by operatives of the multiple checkpoints.

The NCS in the statement, said that the decision to discard the JBPT, was reached after  due consultations with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA

“This operation which commenced in 2019 with a code name ” Ex-Swift Response ,and later evolved into JBPT, was initially designed to enforce the partial border closure policy.

Since its inception ,the JBPT has played a pivotal role in curbing the influx of dangerous goods and ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s trade and security regulations.

The NCS acknowledges and deeply appreciates the cooperation and dedication of other Government agencies that partnered in this endeavour.

Their invaluable ,contributions have been instrumental in safeguarding Nigeria,s land borders.

” The Service assures the general public and stakeholders that these measures will not compromise border security or trade facilitations.

“Rather, they. represent a significant step towards  modernizing Customs operations ,improving trade compliance and strengthening national security”, NCS stated.