Nigeria, Niger Customs strengthen collaboration to secure Sahel, fight insecurity
The Customs administrations of Nigeria and the Niger Republic have emphasised their critical roles in combating terrorism, arms trafficking, and cross-border crime.
The Director-General of the Niger Republic Customs Administration, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described his visit to the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters as timely and necessitated by two major challenges, including the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger Republic, as well as prevailing security concerns across the region.
“We face common security challenges, particularly terrorism and banditry, and we believe that engagements like this provide an opportunity to find lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination.” DG Yaqouba said.
He disclosed that Niger Republic has intensified efforts since 2024 to tackle terrorism, including the launch of Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies, which has recorded notable success.
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As part of the operation, he said scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering Niger Republic, stressing that Customs administrations have a critical role to play in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border criminality.
The Director-General recalled previous bilateral meetings, including the last engagement held in April 2023, expressing confidence that both administrations would continue to work together to meet shared obligations and deliver tangible outcomes for their countries.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major-General Garba Laka, congratulated the Director-General of Niger Republic Customs on his appointment and extended condolences to the Government and people of Niger over the recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
He described the incident as painful, condemning the attack and sympathising with the families of soldiers who lost their lives, while reaffirming the shared resolve of Nigeria and Niger to prevent a recurrence.
READ ALSO: Nigeria, Niger Customs strengthen cooperation to boost border security, economic stability
Major-General Laka stressed that Nigeria and Niger share more than borders, describing the two countries as one people with deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly in border communities where families live and trade across both countries.
“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major threats that require coordinated and sustained action.” He said.
He disclosed that the Government of Nigeria places high priority on Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, noting that requests from Niger, particularly on petroleum products and gas, receive prompt attention at the highest level.
The Major-General advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, stressing that such mechanisms are essential for effectively combating terrorism and organised crime.
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He called for joint Nigeria–Niger operations and sustained inter-agency collaboration, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would be translated into concrete actions.
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