The Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone `A’, Assistant Comptroller-General Charles Edike, on Thursday urged the Nigerian Army not to relent in its mandate of national security of the nation. Edike made the plea during his visit to the office of the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet.
He commended the support of some Army officers who were deployed to the border areas, adding that their support had enabled Customs to achieve numerous successes. “I was so impressed with the support of Immigration and Air Force when I visited Customs Command at Igbeti, Oyo/Osun, Ogun, Ondo/Ekiti and Seme Commands. “I have no option than to visit their superior officers and appreciate the existing relationship between the agencies,” he said. Edike said that Customs could not operate alone without the support of other sisters agencies like the Army. The Customs chief said that the role of the Nigerian Army in Customs revenue generation drive could not be over-emphasised. The zonal coordinator said that the Nigerian Army assisted Customs in providing maximum security, which had assisted the service in interception of prohibited goods. In his response, the General Officer Commanding, commended the efforts of the zonal coordinator for deeming it fit to appreciate the support of the Army. Edet said that both Customs and the Army worked together for the defence and security of the nation. “We appreciate your visit and we will continue to support the Customs because of our common goal in security of the nation. “We have been supporting the Customs service in its duties but we do not always inform the public because of the nature of our discipline,” Edet said. He said that the Nigerian Army had been supporting Customs in terms of intelligence reports on terrorism and we supported by redeploying officers. Edet, however, pleaded for continuous support of the Customs service, adding that it was the duty of the Army to support Customs in generating more revenue for government.
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