Synergy, Seizures Thrive At Eastern Customs
It is a season of synergy and seizures as comptroller Farouk Nadaniya pledges to crush smuggling in Zone ‘C’ while the Port Harcourt I Customs Command intercepts 30 wraps of Canadian Loud at the Port Harcourt International Airport
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
It was more than a courtesy visit. It was a statement of intent as the newly Acting Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri, Deputy Comptroller Farouk Nadaniya, hit the ground running not to chase smugglers, but to build bridges.
His destination was the nerve centres of Customs operations in the South-South and South-East geopolitical regions, considered as major hubs of the country’s socio-economic survival.
From Zone ‘C’ Headquarters Port Harcourt to the Port Harcourt I Command, Ibeto Seaport Area 5 Command, Port Harcourt Area II, Onne Command and the Eastern Marine Command, Ag. Comptroller Nadaniya moved with a clear message and that remains coordination and new enforcement strategy.
“This visit is part of efforts to enhance operational coordination and effective service delivery,” he told officers.
At every command, Nadaniya paused to appreciate the warm reception. He thanked Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve and commended Area Controllers, officers and men for their commitment to duty.
He harped on collective responsibility, the need for Federal Operations Unit (FOU) and Area Commands to work as one family in combating smuggling, protecting government revenue and enforcing legitimate trade laws.
“No Unit can succeed alone. Our strength lies in our synergy. It is only through collective responsibility that we can achieve the strategic objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
He appealed for the same support and cooperation enjoyed by his predecessor, noting that continuity and teamwork would consolidate existing gains and boost operational performance across the Zone.
Area Controllers described the tour as unprecedented, noting that it was rare for a new FOU Comptroller to embark on such an extensive familiarization visit so early.
They assured him of a cordial working relationship built on mutual respect, professionalism, discipline and accountability, and urged him to key into the reform-driven vision of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
“We will give you our unending and continuous support to enhance operational efficiency in your area of jurisdiction,” one Area Controller assured, while offering prayers for guidance, protection, good health and wisdom for the new FOU boss and his men.
Before embarking on the tour, Ag. Comptroller Nadaniya had met with patrol team leaders of the Unit.
There, he was blunt. Considering the strategic importance of FOU Zone ‘C’ in advancing the mandate of the Service, discipline, professionalism, vigilance and accountability must remain non-negotiable.
For Nadaniya, the familiarization tour is just the beginning. The real work crushing smuggling, securing revenue and facilitating legitimate trade has just started.
Meanwhile, a female passenger from South Africa nabbed as Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku reaffirms commitment in line with the renewed synergy among security agencies and aligns with the reform agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which places premium on border security, public health and national safety.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, has recorded another major breakthrough in the war against illicit drugs.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, officers of the Command intercepted 30 wraps of Canadian Loud concealed in the luggage of a female passenger who arrived from South Africa.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC I Barilule Aanee, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller.
At a brief handover ceremony held at the Command, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Atuluku, described the fight against illicit drugs as a fight for the future of Nigerian youths.
“Tackling illicit drugs remains essential to protecting public health and the lives of Nigerian citizens. Substances like Canadian Loud destroy mental health, decision-making and productivity.” Comptroller Atuluku said.
She warned that the harmful effects of substance abuse go beyond the individual, affecting families and the entire community.
Comptroller Atuluku commended the gallant officers who made the interception possible and lauded the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs and the NCS Management Team in strengthening anti-smuggling operations.
Receiving the exhibits, the Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, NDLEA, Nathaniel Negedu, praised the Customs Service for its vigilance and professionalism.
He noted that the successful operation underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling drug trafficking.
“This operation highlights the value of cooperation between NCS and NDLEA. We must sustain our joint efforts to combat drug trafficking and address the serious threat it poses to society,” Negedu said.
The seizure reinforces the renewed synergy among security agencies and aligns with the CGC’s reform agenda which places a premium on border security, public health and national safety.
For Port Harcourt Area I Command under Comptroller Atuluku, the message is clear: Port Harcourt is not a safe haven for drug traffickers.
