By Femi Anamelechi
In a dynamic and strategic bid geared towards enhancement of border surveillance and combat cross-border crimes, the Nigeria Customs Service has launched a first-of-its-kind training on geospatial intelligence, in partnership with the World Customs Organization and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The week-long programme, which began on June 2, 2025, at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, brought together customs officers from across West Africa. Declaring the event open, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative is part of efforts to build a modern, technology-driven border management system aligned with global standards.
WCO’s Motohiro Fujimitsu described the training as a turning point for managing fragile borders, while JICA Chief Representative, Yuzurio Susumu, reaffirmed Japan’s support for Nigeria’s security and trade modernization goals. Assistant Comptroller-General Dera Nnadi, who leads the Customs Strategic Research and Policy Department, thanked participants and partners, expressing hope that the training will make Nigeria’s borders more resilient and secure.
