Customs Chief Urges Stronger Partnership with Immigration, NDLEA, and NAFDAC to Tackle Smuggling and Drug Trafficking
In a renewed effort to enhance Nigeria’s border security and curb the movement of illicit goods, the Customs Area 1 Controller, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, has initiated a strategic interagency collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The series of visits, conducted last week in Port Harcourt, form part of Atuluku’s broader agenda to align the operations of border control, drug enforcement, and trade regulation among Nigeria’s key security and regulatory institutions.
During separate meetings with top officials — including Immigration Comptroller Y.I. Abdulhajeed, NAFDAC Deputy Director of Port Inspection Pharm. Adepoju Bayo Raufu, and NDLEA Rivers Commander Ahmed Mamuda — Atuluku emphasized the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement, describing interagency collaboration as “the backbone of national security.”
“While Immigration oversees the movement of people and Customs regulates goods, both roles are interlinked,” she stated. “Working together effectively will strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade, and boost the economy.”
Atuluku underscored the need for border agencies to break institutional barriers by adopting joint operations, shared communication networks, and integrated data systems to combat cross-border crimes such as smuggling and drug trafficking.
She reaffirmed Customs’ dedication to fostering open collaboration with partner agencies, noting that joint initiatives have already proven vital in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling efforts.
Commending the initiative, Immigration Comptroller Abdulhajeed described Customs as a “strategic ally in border management and national security” and pledged full cooperation. “Our roles complement each other, and sustained synergy is essential to ensuring safer, better-regulated borders,” he said.
At the NAFDAC Port Inspection Directorate, Pharm. Raufu also welcomed the partnership drive, calling it “a significant move toward stronger collaboration.” He noted that cooperation between Customs and NAFDAC has helped prevent counterfeit and substandard goods from entering the market, thereby safeguarding public health.
Atuluku’s outreach concluded with a visit to the NDLEA Rivers Command Headquarters, where she and Commander Mamuda discussed enhanced strategies to disrupt drug smuggling and trafficking networks.
“The Customs Service and NDLEA share a mutual duty to shield Nigeria from the dangers of illicit substances and prohibited goods,” Atuluku remarked. “Through intelligence sharing, joint enforcement, and regular engagement, we can reinforce our capacity to protect both our borders and our citizens.”
Commander Mamuda praised Atuluku’s initiative as “a model of proactive leadership” and reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to intelligence-based collaboration, citing the success of previous joint operations against smuggling and drug crimes.
Atuluku’s campaign represents one of her first major interagency coordination efforts since assuming leadership at the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command. Her core message — that no single agency can secure the nation’s borders alone — echoes a growing consensus among Nigeria’s security and regulatory bodies.
“Customs, Immigration, NAFDAC, and NDLEA all play crucial roles in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders, economy, and public health,” she said. “By sustaining cooperation, we can strengthen our institutions, promote legitimate trade, and build a safer, more prosperous nation.”
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