Anani vows zero tolerance for dangerous imports, commends officers for vigilance
The TinCan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has vowed not to become a weak link in the enforcement of import prohibitions, particularly in the interception of firearms and other dangerous items capable of threatening national security.
Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Joe Anani, gave the assurance in Lagos during a press briefing and the handing over of illegally imported firearms intercepted by the command.
Anani said the command had remained vigilant in carrying out its responsibilities and would continue to frustrate attempts by criminals to use the port as a channel for bringing prohibited and dangerous items into the country.
He warned those who considered Nigerian ports an easy route for importing prohibited items that they would not find a willing partner in the Nigeria Customs Service.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the TinCan Island Port Command once again, particularly on this important occasion of this press briefing and the handing over of illegally imported firearms intercepted by the Command,” Anani said.
He noted that the latest handover was not the first such exercise carried out by the command in the month, recalling similar operations involving the interception and transfer of seized items to relevant security agencies.
According to him, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had recently handed over seized items to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, as well as illicit drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Anani commended the Customs CG for his leadership, encouragement and support, particularly his efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and border security.
He also praised the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for its cooperation with the TinCan Island Port Command.
The CAC said the collaboration had gone beyond official pronouncements, noting that personnel from the agencies worked together to reconstruct the firearms from their knocked-down components in order to establish the exact nature of the items intercepted.
“Our armament units worked together, spending countless hours carefully coupling and assembling the knocked-down parts of these firearms to establish exactly what had been intercepted,” he said.
Anani described the exercise as a practical demonstration of what could be achieved when security agencies work together towards a common objective.
He also commended officers and men of the TinCan Island Port Command for their vigilance, courage and dedication, which he said were instrumental to the seizures.
“Behind every interception is an officer who has taken a decision to do the right thing, sometimes under difficult circumstances. I am proud of their bravery and commitment to duty,” he said.
The Customs boss said the seizure and subsequent handover of the firearms went beyond the confiscation of prohibited items, stressing that the ultimate objective was to protect lives and safeguard national security.
“As we hand over these items today, let us remember that this is not simply about seized firearms. It is about protecting lives, preserving national security and ensuring that our ports serve legitimate trade and economic development, not as channels for introducing instruments of violence into our communities,” he said.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustained vigilance and strict enforcement of import prohibitions at the port.
