By Bon Peters
This was contained in a press release made available by the Command's Public Relations officer, Barilule Aanee, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital weekend.
The statement noted that in a bid to deepen inter-agency collaboration, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area 1 Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, had paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, CP Micheal Okoh, at the Eastern Port Police Command, Nigerian Ports Authority Complex, Port Harcourt.
The visit was aimed at strengthening the long-standing relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in promoting national security, trade facilitation, and effective law enforcement.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Atuluku has described the Police as the nation’s foremost law enforcement institution, emphasizing that their role in maintaining peace, detecting crimes, and protecting lives and property complemented Customs’ responsibilities in securing the ports and combating smuggling, stressing that both agencies shared a common goal of safeguarding the nation’s economic integrity and ensuring a secure trading environment.
The Area Controller added that stronger collaboration between the NCS and NPF would significantly enhance port operations and national security even as she called for sustained intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols, and joint enforcement efforts to curb illicit trade, arms trafficking, and other forms of transnational crime within the port corridors.
“When we stand together as sister agencies, we send a strong message to economic saboteurs that our ports and borders are not safe havens for illegal activities,” the Area 1 Customs boss asserted.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police Micheal Okoh, described the visit as a demonstration of true
leadership and commitment to partnership applauding the Comptroller Atuluku for such gesture.
The Police chief praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its vital role in revenue generation and border protection, while reaffirming his Command’s readiness to strengthen operational collaboration through information exchange, capacity building, and joint enforcement operations.
CP Okoh emphasized that synergy among security agencies remained the bedrock of national stability.
“When we work hand in hand, criminals have no space to thrive,” He said.
He therefore, assured the Customs Area Controller of his command’s continued support for Customs operations, a peaceful and secured Port environment.
Comptroller Atuluku had reiterated that her visit was borne out of a sincere desire to foster closer ties, promote mutual understanding, and build a stronger framework for collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force even as she reaffirmed her commitment to sustaining a relationship anchored on trust, transparency, and shared responsibility in advancing national security and economic growth.
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