The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), as part of measures to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime borders, is partnering the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies to conduct a joint border security exercise, code-named “EX-SWIFT RESPONSE.”
In a statement signed by Joseph Attah, public relations officer at NCS on Tuesday, the department said the joint exercise was being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and would take place in four geopolitical zones – South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West.
According to the statement, the exercise aims at promoting inter-agency cooperation and increase their preparedness to address trans-border security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, among others.
“The exercise will involve the movement of personnel, vehicles, and equipment within the affected parts of the country,” the NCS explained.
“Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic and should continue to engage in their normal duties. The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our National Security,” it said.
