Customs, Police, Army Move to Strengthen Security Ahead of 2027 Elections
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has sought stronger collaboration with security agencies to curb smuggling, combat trans-border crimes and prevent criminal elements from exploiting the forthcoming election period to destabilise the country.
The Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, made the call during a familiarisation tour of security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos, which began on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
During a visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Afeni, who was received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, emphasised the need for closer cooperation among security agencies to prevent threats to public safety.
“We know that crime rates often increase as the country approaches the election period, as some people may attempt to take advantage of the period to perpetrate illicit activities capable of causing crises during the elections. Therefore, we are here to call for closer synergy so that these bad elements do not have their way,” he said.
Afeni stressed that effective intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement were essential to tackling criminal activities, noting that the responsibilities of FOU Zone ‘A’ went beyond border protection to safeguarding the country’s wider national interests.
He acknowledged the Nigeria Police Force’s intelligence-gathering capabilities and maintained that sustained cooperation among security agencies was critical to achieving meaningful results.
In his response, Fatai described the visit as a welcome practice that had contributed to the achievements recorded by both agencies over the years.
“In Lagos, we have a very strong and robust relationship with all security agencies, notwithstanding the huge population of the state,” the police commissioner said.
The Customs delegation also visited the Department of State Services (DSS), the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Strategic Command, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade, Ikeja.
At the Headquarters of the Army’s 81 Division, Afeni was received by the General Officer Commanding, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, who underscored the importance of joint operations in combating criminality.
Babalola also urged security agencies to avoid unnecessary administrative bottlenecks capable of undermining operational efficiency.
The visits provided a platform for the agencies to reinforce existing relationships and explore areas of cooperation, including intelligence sharing, information exchange, joint operations and coordinated law enforcement within Lagos and the wider operational jurisdiction of FOU Zone ‘A’.
The agencies reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service.
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