Customs Western Marine Command Controller, Timothy Jonah

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has vowed to intensify surveillance and strengthen inter-agency collaboration to combat smuggling along waterways and creeks bordering Lagos and Ogun states.

The newly appointed Acting Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Timothy Jonah, described the area as a hotspot for smuggling activities, stressing that effective intelligence gathering and information sharing would be central to his operational strategy.

Jonah made this known through the command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Clarinet Nwosu, in a statement made available to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said the command would strengthen collaboration with sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police, to curb illicit activities along the waterways.

According to him, sustained engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders would help prevent smuggling while ensuring that legitimate economic activities continue without unnecessary disruption.

Jonah reaffirmed that trade facilitation remained a core responsibility of the NCS, emphasising that enforcement operations against smuggling were not intended to obstruct legitimate businesses.

He noted that the World Customs Organisation (WCO) promoted the safe and efficient movement of legitimate trade, adding that appropriate control measures were necessary to safeguard the supply chain.

The controller assured compliant traders and maritime operators of the command’s support, warning that only individuals involved in illegal activities would face enforcement measures.

He urged operators to comply strictly with existing customs and maritime laws, assuring legitimate businesses that the command would support their operations.

Jonah prioritises officers’ welfare, community relations

On officers’ welfare, Jonah said he would build on the welfare initiatives of the Comptroller-General of Customs, including health checks and sports facilities designed to improve personnel fitness, morale and productivity.

He also announced plans to engage leaders of riverine communities and traditional rulers in border areas from the following week to strengthen cooperation between the command and host communities.

The acting controller pledged to consolidate and improve on the achievements of his predecessor, stressing that effective community partnerships were essential to successful anti-smuggling operations.

Controller charges officers on discipline, teamwork

Addressing officers and men at the command’s headquarters in Lagos, Jonah urged personnel to embrace teamwork, discipline and respect for constituted authority to enhance operational effectiveness.

He stressed that no officer could succeed in isolation, noting that excellence in service depended on collective effort, cooperation and a shared sense of responsibility.

Describing the NCS as a regimented organisation founded on discipline, the controller cautioned officers against disregarding established reporting channels or bypassing their immediate supervisors to report issues directly to him.

He urged officers in leadership positions to demonstrate accountability and problem-solving skills, noting that effective leadership required identifying challenges, finding practical solutions and making meaningful contributions within their areas of responsibility.

Jonah also emphasised the importance of personnel welfare, health consciousness and work-life balance, urging officers to maintain high professional standards and protect the reputation of the service.

He further encouraged them to maintain a professional appearance, dress appropriately, demonstrate confidence when engaging with sister security agencies and cultivate a culture of continuous learning.

The controller reiterated that discipline, mutual respect and effective collaboration would remain critical to strengthening the command’s operations and achieving its anti-smuggling objectives.

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