The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for intelligence-led border security, stronger inter-agency collaboration and the deployment of modern surveillance technology to tackle the smuggling of small arms and light weapons into Nigeria.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at a leadership course on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), organised by the Defence Intelligence College in Abuja.

Adeniyi, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Comptroller Haniel Hadison, said effective border security required the collective efforts of security agencies and other stakeholders.

Hadison, who delivered a lecture titled, “The Role of the Nigeria Customs Service in Intercepting Arms Smugglers and the Challenges of Border Management,” said the Customs Service had continued to deploy intelligence-led enforcement, strategic interceptions and collaboration with other security agencies to disrupt illicit arms trafficking.

He said porous land and maritime borders, illegal crossing routes, inadequate surveillance technology, shortage of trained personnel and limited operational logistics remained major challenges to effective border management.

He also identified sophisticated concealment methods used by smugglers as an emerging challenge confronting security agencies.

According to him, the government should invest more in modern border surveillance systems, non-intrusive inspection equipment, drones and biometric border management, while improving the capacity of personnel.

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“Effective border security cannot be achieved by the Nigeria Customs Service alone. It requires sustained cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, strengthened intelligence sharing, active engagement with border communities and closer collaboration with neighbouring countries,” he said.

Hadison also stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, risk profiling and continuous professional training in tackling emerging smuggling techniques and transnational organised crime.

He said interceptions recorded by the Customs Service at seaports and airports had demonstrated the importance of modern inspection technology, intelligence gathering, effective risk profiling and collaboration among security agencies.

He called for a coordinated national border management strategy supported by adequate funding, institutional reforms and stronger sanctions against arms traffickers.

He said such measures would help reduce the illegal movement of arms into the country and strengthen national security.