By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML) Customs Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national borders and preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Speaking at a press briefing on January 30, 2026, the Customs Area Controller, (CAC) Comptroller Joe Anani, formally handed over seized arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
The seized items, uncovered during the examination of imported vehicles between 2022 and 2025, include five pistols, one Crossman pump master rifle, 132 Remington live cartridges, 51 9mm Lugar live ammunition, and other related items. These weapons were discovered on 25 different occasions, highlighting the meticulous efforts of the PTML Customs Command.
Comptroller Anani emphasized the Command’s dedication to implementing the Revised Kyoto Convention, a World Customs Organisation instrument that facilitates trade. The NCS Modernisation Project has significantly enhanced productivity through the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as “B’Odogwu”.
The Command has achieved notable revenue growth, collecting ₦44,058,849,416.65 in January 2026, representing an 8.8% increase compared to the previous year’s collection. Comptroller Anani expressed gratitude to compliant stakeholders for their cooperation.
The handover of seized arms and ammunition to NCCSALW is a crucial step in preventing the proliferation of illicit weapons. NCCSALW will handle the items according to international conventions.
The event underscores the Command’s proactive measures in intercepting illicit items and collaborating with sister agencies. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reiterated the service’s zero-tolerance stance on arms trafficking.
The NCS remains committed to protecting national borders and maintaining public safety through effective anti-smuggling operations and interagency collaboration. The event highlights the importance of interagency collaboration in achieving national security objectives.
The NCS’s cooperation with NCCSALW and other agencies demonstrates a unified approach to addressing arms trafficking and border control challenges, reinforcing Nigeria’s resolve to ensure public safety and uphold international Customs standards.
