Nigeria Customs Engages NARTO to Boost Border Security in Niger/Kogi Axis

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has intensified its stakeholder engagement efforts with a strategic meeting involving the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), aimed at strengthening border security and protecting legitimate transport operations across the region.

The engagement took place on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Command’s headquarters, where the

 Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Pascal Chibuoke, received a delegation from NARTO in

 collaboration with NAXAR Strategic Consult Limited.

According to the Customs Service, the meeting focused on deepening cooperation in areas such as

  border surveillance, intelligence sharing, and the fight against smuggling and illegal arms

 trafficking, while also ensuring that lawful transport activities are not disrupted.

Speaking during the engagement, Comptroller Chibuoke commended NARTO and its partners for their

 proactive approach to national security collaboration. He noted that road transport operators play a

 critical role in maintaining security due to their constant movement along border routes and major

 highways, placing them in a strategic position to observe and report suspicious activities.

The Customs Area Controller reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to professionalism, sustained

 stakeholder engagement, and partnerships that promote secure borders while facilitating legitimate

 trade and transportation. He stressed that effective collaboration with transport unions remains vital in

 tackling transborder crimes and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.

In their response, the NARTO Niger/Kogi Coordinator, Halifu Abdullahi, alongside the association’s

 Technical Assistant, Malam Safio Yahaya, and a member of the delegation, Mr Haruna Garba,

 expressed appreciation for the reception accorded them by the Customs leadership. They assured the

 Command of NARTO’s readiness to support security initiatives through timely information sharing,

 member sensitisation, and compliance with relevant policies.

Both parties concluded the meeting with a shared commitment to sustain collaboration in the interest of

  national security, economic development, and the protection of legitimate transport operations

along the Niger and Kogi corridor. Source: Nigeria Customs Service, Niger/Kogi Area Command

 (official statement)