Nigeria Customs Joins France–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking
Nigeria Customs Joins France–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking
Nigeria Customs Joins France–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has participated in a high-level France–Nigeria strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation against transnational illicit drug trafficking and related crimes.
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The meeting, held on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, at the Embassy of France in Nigeria, was themed “Trends, Gaps and Opportunities to Strengthen Nigeria’s Response to Transnational Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes.” It brought together key stakeholders from national and international law enforcement, regulatory, and security agencies.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was represented at the forum by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
Opening the dialogue, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, emphasized the importance of sustained international cooperation, intelligence sharing, and institutional synergy in tackling cross-border drug trafficking.
During the panel session, Comptroller Oshoba responded to questions from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative, Folusho Adelekan, highlighting the Service’s successes in drug interceptions at ports and the prosecution of offenders. He attributed these achievements to effective leadership, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and the legal backing provided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
Oshoba noted that progress made under previous leadership is being consolidated by the current Comptroller-General, guided by the Service’s core pillars of collaboration, innovation, and consolidation. He also outlined strategic partnerships with agencies including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and Nigeria Forensic Intelligence Agency, describing them as critical to intelligence-led operations and successful prosecutions.
He further stressed Customs’ frontline role at seaports, airports, and land borders, adding that capacity building, deployment of modern technology, and intelligence-driven enforcement have significantly improved the Service’s ability to disrupt drug-trafficking networks.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Major General Buba Marwa (Rtd.), acknowledged the support of INTERPOL and other international partners while commending inter-agency collaboration in strengthening border security and drug control efforts.
Participants at the interactive session identified challenges including manpower gaps, the need for stronger political will, and improved transparency within the justice system, agreeing that addressing these issues would enhance Nigeria’s collective response to organised crime.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Fonbaustier thanked participants for their contributions and reaffirmed France’s commitment to continued engagement and future strategic dialogues in the fight against transnational crime.
Nigeria Customs Joins France–Nigeria Strategic Dialogue on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking
