REIMAGINING CUSTOMS POLICING: ADENIYI SEEKS INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN OPERATIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY AS FORMER PROVOST MARSHALS REUNITE

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

As criminal networks become increasingly sophisticated and illicit trade continues to pose threats to national security, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is looking towards a new era of intelligence-led enforcement, institutional accountability and technology-driven policing.

This formed the central message at the inaugural Customs Police Summit 2026, where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, challenged officers of the Customs Police Unit (CPU) to embrace professionalism, strengthen internal discipline and reposition the unit to meet emerging security challenges.

The three-day summit, themed “Reimagining Customs Policing: Learning from the Past, Responding to the Present, and Preparing for the Future,” brought together serving and former Provost Marshals, senior Customs officers and representatives of sister security agencies to examine the evolution of Customs policing and chart a sustainable path for its future.

Beyond being a gathering of officers, the summit provided an opportunity for institutional reflection, experience-sharing and renewed commitment to the principles of lawful enforcement, integrity and accountability.

Addressing participants, Adeniyi said the changing nature of criminal activities required a Customs Police Unit that was not only operationally effective but also professionally disciplined, technologically equipped and accountable to the public.

He identified three important lessons from the evolution of Customs policing: integrity must begin within the Service, authority must be exercised with restraint, and enforcement must be strengthened through collaboration.

According to him, the Customs Police Unit, formally established in 2019, was created to investigate misconduct among personnel, prevent crime and ensure compliance with established standards within the Service.

He noted that although the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 provides extensive law enforcement powers, such authority must be exercised strictly within the provisions of the law.

“Every search, arrest and detention must rest on lawful grounds and must withstand public and judicial scrutiny,” Adeniyi emphasised.

The Customs chief warned that criminal networks were increasingly exploiting legitimate trade routes to move firearms, ammunition and other prohibited items, while deploying violence, political connections and digital platforms to advance their activities.

He maintained that confronting these threats required a departure from conventional enforcement approaches towards smarter operations driven by intelligence gathering, advanced screening technologies and stronger institutional partnerships.

For Adeniyi, the future of Customs policing rests on three major pillars: consolidation, collaboration and innovation.

He explained that consolidation would involve strengthening operational procedures, investing in professional development and establishing clear guidelines for arrest, detention and prosecution.

On collaboration, he called for deeper partnerships with the Nigeria Police Force, Armed Forces, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Department of State Services (DSS) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among other agencies.

He also identified technology as an indispensable tool in modern law enforcement, advocating the deployment of artificial intelligence, advanced scanners, digital investigation tools and electronic cargo tracking to improve operational efficiency.

Adeniyi described data as one of the Service's most valuable assets, stressing that access to global criminal databases and effective information-sharing platforms would enhance investigations and strengthen the capacity of officers to anticipate and respond to security threats.

However, he cautioned that technological advancement must not come at the expense of individual rights, insisting that innovation should be guided by legal safeguards, data protection and human oversight.

The Comptroller-General further urged officers to uphold discipline, professionalism and respect for human rights, warning that misconduct and abuse of authority could erode public confidence and undermine the reputation of the Service.

He commended officers who had contributed to the development of the Customs Police Unit, urging them to preserve its institutional achievements while identifying areas requiring improvement.

Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs and Provost Marshal of the Service, TS Sanusi, highlighted the progress recorded by the Customs Police Unit since its establishment.

He reaffirmed that respect for the rule of law remained the unit's guiding principle, noting that enforcing discipline, ensuring compliance and promoting professional accountability were central to its mandate.

Sanusi stressed the importance of strengthening professional standards, institutional governance and operational compliance, adding that Customs enforcement activities must align with international best practices.

He identified transparency, ethical conduct, risk management and anti-corruption measures as essential elements of effective Customs policing.

The Provost Marshal also emphasised that sustainable operational effectiveness would depend on collective commitment, stronger institutional structures and cooperation among personnel and relevant stakeholders.

Similarly, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, ACG Shuaibu, described the Customs Police Unit as a critical component of national security and institutional administration.

He said the unit's responsibilities extended beyond internal discipline to include specialised criminal administration, compliance monitoring, protection of personnel and safeguarding the institutional reputation of the Service.

Shuaibu called for improvements in intelligence gathering, surveillance, risk analysis and investigation techniques to enable officers to respond effectively to increasingly sophisticated criminal activities.

He also advocated stronger internal controls, impartial investigations and consistent enforcement of disciplinary standards, irrespective of the rank or position of personnel involved.

He maintained that officers must exercise their powers with fairness, restraint and respect for human rights.

The summit also provided an opportunity for representatives of other law enforcement institutions to share perspectives on strengthening policing standards and preparing personnel for emerging security challenges.

A representative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stressed that investment in personnel, technology and leadership was essential to building effective law enforcement institutions.

He observed that policies and regulations could only achieve meaningful results when implemented by personnel who demonstrate integrity, discipline and professionalism.

He urged Customs and other paramilitary agencies to strengthen supervisory structures, promote lawful conduct and address misconduct consistently, regardless of the status of the individuals involved.

The EFCC representative also highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, personnel welfare, crisis management and conflict resolution in improving the effectiveness of law enforcement officers.

He called on security agencies to move beyond institutional rivalries and embrace stronger cooperation through intelligence sharing, digital forensics and joint capacity-building initiatives.

Participants were encouraged to establish lasting professional networks, harmonise operational procedures and develop practical mechanisms for sustained inter-agency cooperation.

One of the notable features of the three-day summit was the gathering of former Provost Marshals, whose experiences provided an opportunity to reflect on the historical development, achievements and challenges of Customs policing.

Their participation reinforced the importance of institutional memory and continuity in building a stronger Customs Police Unit.

Discussions also examined critical issues affecting the unit, providing a platform for serving and retired officers to exchange ideas and contribute to strategies for improving its operational effectiveness.

The engagement underscored the need to preserve valuable institutional experiences while adapting to contemporary policing demands.

Beyond the policy discussions and professional engagements, the summit also featured the Operation Keep Customs Clean initiative, which included a medical outreach programme.

The initiative added a welfare and public-service dimension to the summit, highlighting the importance of health awareness and medical support alongside institutional reforms and operational development.

A new direction for Customs policing

As the summit drew to a close, its central message was clear: the effectiveness of Customs policing must be measured not only by its enforcement capacity but also by its integrity, professionalism, respect for the rule of law and ability to build public confidence.

With the Nigeria Customs Service facing increasingly complex challenges associated with illicit trade, cross-border criminal networks and evolving security threats, the Customs Police Unit is expected to play a more strategic role in protecting the Service and supporting national security.

The summit is expected to generate practical recommendations on intelligence sharing, responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, operational procedures and specialised training for personnel.

Ultimately, the gathering represents an important step towards repositioning Customs policing from a predominantly enforcement-focused structure into a modern, intelligence-driven and accountable institution.

For the Customs Police Unit, the task ahead is to build on the experiences of the past, confront the realities of the present and prepare a more professional and technologically equipped force for the future.