Customs, NARTO Strengthen Collaboration on Border Security in Niger/Kogi

opeolumartinJanuary 21, 202603 mins

Minna, Niger State – Tuesday, 13 January 2026

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has reinforced its stakeholder engagement efforts with a strategic meeting involving the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), aimed at enhancing border security and safeguarding legitimate transport operations across the Niger/Kogi axis.
The engagement took place on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, at the Command’s headquarters, where the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Pascal Chibuoke, received a NARTO delegation in collaboration with NAXAR Strategic Consult Limited.
In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASC I) Abubakar Zakariya, the visit focused on strengthening cooperation in critical areas such as border security, the fight against illegal arms trafficking, and the protection of lawful road transport activities.

Welcoming the delegation, Comptroller Chibuoke commended NARTO and NAXAR Strategic Consult Limited for their proactive approach to national security collaboration. He noted that road transport operators occupy a strategic position in intelligence gathering and regulatory compliance, given their constant movement along border routes and major highways.

According to him, effective synergy between Customs and transport stakeholders is essential in tackling smuggling, illicit arms movement, and other transborder crimes. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to professionalism, sustained stakeholder engagement, and partnerships that promote secure borders while facilitating legitimate trade and transportation.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, 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 warm reception accorded them by the Customs Area Controller. They assured the Command of NARTO’s readiness to support security efforts through timely information sharing, continuous sensitisation of members, and cooperation with policies aimed at strengthening national security.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve by both parties to sustain collaboration in the interest of national security, economic development, and the protection of legitimate transport operations across the Niger/Kogi corridor.