Nigeria Customs Partners WCO, JICA on Geospatial Intelligence to Boost Border Security in West Africa
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collaborated with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to introduce the inaugural WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), geared towards enhancing border security and regional capacity in West Africa.
The week-long programme commenced on June 2, 2025, in Abuja, drawing participants from Customs administrations across the region. The training aims to equip officers with the technical know-how to deploy geospatial technologies for mapping, analysing, and monitoring border activities.
While declaring the programme open, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to boost trade security and combat transnational crimes such as smuggling and trafficking.
“What we are witnessing today is the fruition of nearly a decade of sustained collaboration, innovation and capacity building. I wish to commend both WCO and JICA for providing us with the opportunity to emerge as one of the leading Customs administrations in fostering GEOINT capacity within our region,” Comptroller Adeniyi stated.
He added: “This recognition comes with both pride and responsibility, as we continue to serve as a model for other Customs administrations seeking to enhance their border management capabilities. As transnational trade continues to expand exponentially, criminals demonstrate increasing ingenuity in evading technology within Customs operations.
“The complexities of the modern supply chain, coupled with sophistication of criminal methods operating across multiple jurisdictions demand equally sophisticated response mechanisms.”
The WCO representative, Motohiro Fujimitsu, commended the initiative, describing it as a game-changer for managing fragile borders in West Africa.
Similarly, JICA Chief Representative, Yuzurio Susumu expressed Japan’s commitment to helping Nigeria and the region build resilient and modern border control systems through geospatial intelligence.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, from the Strategic Research and Policy Department, delivered the vote of thanks, urging participants to make full use of the training to protect their respective borders.
