The Nigeria Customs Service is set to boost its policing of the nations waters especially the Western and Eastern part of the country with the arrival of the much anticipated two sea going vessels for the Western Marine command.
The vessels, christened ‘Customs Pride’ and ‘Group of Nine’ which came in from Turkey yesterday berthed at the PTML Grimaldi Jetty in Apapa.
Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Yusuf Umar who disclosed this to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in his office in Lagos described the acquisition of the vessels as a landmark achievement as they were the first to be acquired by the Service.
He said the vessels would boost the command’s war on smuggling activities on waters.
“Mere seeing the vessel on water, that will send signals to smugglers including those stealing our oil and other smuggling activities on waters because we can pursue them with this kind of vessels to any length,” he said.
Umar said an elaborate ceremony to commission the vessels is being planned by the management.
“We are awaiting further directives from the headquarters on when the Comptroller General will commission the vessels. This is a landmark achievement by the Service,” he said.
Built in Turkey, the vessels are equipped with communication gadgets including high radar to enable it pick distant signals.
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