The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Police Force and the armed forces have launched a joint operation named Ex-Swift Response to check insecurity along the nation’s entry points.
Customs spokesman, Joseph Attah, said in a statement made available to SHIPS & PORTS on Tuesday that the exercise is one of the measures put in place to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime borders.
The joint exercise, he said, is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will take place in four geopolitical zones, namely South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West.
He said, “It is expected that the exercise will promote inter-agency cooperation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, amongst others.
“The exercise will also involve the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country. 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.”