NCS Transfers Seized Arms to NCCSALW
…As CGC Adeniyi Reiterates Commitment to Enhance National Security
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). These arms were seized in 2018 at the Tin Can Island Port in three containers and were officially transferred on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized that this handover showcases the NCS’s dedication to safeguarding national borders and ensuring public safety. He vowed to exhaust all resources in pursuit of individuals attempting to compromise national security through arms trafficking.
“We will spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise our national security through arms trafficking,” he said.
The CGC praised the officers involved in the seizures for their professionalism and bravery. He also acknowledged the crucial role of the Forensics Unit in securing convictions.
Adeniyi reassured the public that the Nigeria Customs Service is committed to protecting legitimate trade while ensuring national security. He emphasized that the Service will deploy its full intelligence and enforcement capabilities to safeguard legitimate trade and prioritize Nigeria’s security interests.
The Director-General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde (Rtd), received the items on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. He assured that the weapons would be handled in accordance with international conventions.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS Convention, and we will not do anything short of international best practice,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant and to continue collaborating to ensure the country remains resilient against the scourge of illicit weaponry.
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