The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has intensified its stakeholder engagement efforts with a strategic meeting with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), aimed at strengthening border security and safeguarding legitimate transport operations across the corridor.
The engagement, which took place on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, saw the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Pascal Chibuoke, host a NARTO delegation in collaboration with NAXAR Strategic Consult Limited at the Command’s headquarters.
According to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Abubakar Zakariya, discussions at the meeting focused on deepening cooperation in critical areas such as border security, curbing illegal arms trafficking and protecting lawful road transport activities.
Welcoming the delegation, Comptroller Chibuoke commended NARTO and NAXAR Strategic Consult Limited for their proactive commitment to national security. He noted that road transport operators occupy a strategic position in intelligence gathering and compliance monitoring, given their frequent movement along border routes and major highways.
He stressed that sustained synergy between Customs and transport stakeholders is vital to tackling smuggling, illicit arms movement and other transborder crimes. The Area Controller reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to professionalism, continuous stakeholder engagement and partnerships that strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate trade and transportation.
In their remarks, the NARTO Niger/Kogi Coordinator, Halifu Abdullahi, alongside the association’s Technical Assistant, Malam Safio Yahaya, and a member of the delegation, Mr Haruna Garba, expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended by the Customs leadership. They assured the Command of NARTO’s readiness to support security initiatives through timely information sharing, sensitisation of members and cooperation with policies aimed at enhancing national security.
The meeting ended with both parties reaffirming their resolve to sustain collaboration in the interest of national security, economic development and the protection of legitimate transport operations across the Niger/Kogi axis.
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