Customs and CDCFIB Join Forces to Strengthen Nigeria’s Security Frontlines.

By Raymond Enoch

In a renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) have reignited a powerful alliance aimed at deepening operational collaboration, sharing critical infrastructure, and delivering a unified response to the country’s security challenges.

This renewed synergy was sealed during a high-level courtesy visit by the CDCFIB leadership to the Nigeria Customs Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, received the delegation and used the occasion to reaffirm the enduring partnership between Customs and the agencies under the CDCFIB — namely, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Correctional Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Speaking at the meeting, CGC Adeniyi underscored the deep interconnectivity that has long existed among the services, pointing out that beyond policy discussions, real collaboration has been happening on the ground.

“In Ibadan, we have a five-storey building where two floors are dedicated exclusively to our Immigration and Correctional Service colleagues,” Adeniyi disclosed. “Our facilities in Kano have supported Immigration’s recruitment exercises, while in Bauchi, we’ve allocated an entire wing to our sister services. These examples highlight not just goodwill, but practical, boots-on-the-ground cooperation that benefits the entire country.”

He stressed that such collaborations must be sustained and expanded, especially in a security environment that demands integration, speed, and trust among national institutions.

The visiting delegation was led by Major General AbdulMalik Jibril (rtd), Secretary to the CDCFIB, who commended CGC Adeniyi on the recent extension of his tenure, praising his professionalism and dedication to national progress.

“As Secretary to the Board overseeing Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services, I felt it necessary to personally congratulate you on your well-earned tenure extension,” said Jibril. “More importantly, this visit aims to rekindle and institutionalize the synergy between our agencies. The threats we face as a nation require that we act as one.”

Jibril further emphasized that the purpose of the visit extended beyond ceremony, noting that the Board was actively seeking stronger collaboration in training, recruitment, and the use of shared facilities — all of which fall in line with the federal government’s “whole-of-society” approach to security.

“The days of working in silos are over,” he said. “The Ministry of Interior is championing a unified front where all our agencies support each other. Customs has proven to be a valuable partner in this journey, and we are here to build on that legacy.”

Security analysts have described the renewed cooperation as a timely and strategic realignment, especially in light of the mounting pressures on national institutions to combat a range of complex security threats — from smuggling and illegal migration to prison congestion, internal conflicts, and infrastructure emergencies.

The meeting also signals a broader shift in federal policy toward integrated service delivery, where government agencies share not only responsibilities but also resources — including buildings, recruitment platforms, and training academies — to minimize duplication, cut costs, and accelerate response times in emergencies.

Observers believe that with Customs’ expansive logistics capacity and the CDCFIB’s diverse operational reach, the new alliance could serve as a model for inter-agency cooperation across West Africa.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with internal security challenges, the message from Thursday’s meeting was clear and compelling: unity of purpose among the nation’s security and paramilitary services is not just desirable — it is essential.

This strategy of engagement between the Nigeria Customs Service and the CDCFIB offers a glimpse into a more cooperative, efficient, and resilient security future for the nation.