In a bid to strengthen maritime security and enhance anti-smuggling operations, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) have jointly tested a locally built airboat at Jabi Lake, Abuja.
The homegrown vessel, designed for shallow and hard-to-reach waterways, was inspected and taken on a test run by officers from both agencies. Experts at the exercise described the airboat as a strategic addition to Nigeria’s security infrastructure, citing its unique capabilities in tackling smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
Speaking during the exercise, the Comptroller in charge of Special Duties at the NCS Headquarters, Haniel Haddison, commended the innovation, describing it as a milestone in indigenous technology. He praised the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for championing collaboration and capacity building.
“This is a welcome idea for the Nigeria Customs Service and we commend the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs to ensure that we add value in our equipment,” Haddison said.
“This is a very good collaboration, and that is what the Comptroller-General of Customs stands for — synergy and partnership with sister agencies, particularly in the area of capacity building. This will add value to the competency and capability of the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Also speaking, the Director of Maritime, Research and Development at the DRDB, Rear Admiral Suleiman El-Ladan, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in strengthening maritime security. He stressed that partnerships such as the NCS–DRDB initiative were crucial to countering evolving threats in Nigeria’s waterways.
Read Also;
Onne Customs Generates N859bn, Seizes Contraband Worth N200bn in 15 Months
FirstBank Digital Platforms Suffer Temporary Downtime, Customers Face Transaction Delays
Customs Intercepts 15 Rifles, 4,800 Rounds of Ammunition, Drones, and Contraband in South-West
The exercise concluded with a symbolic presentation of souvenirs by the Director-General of the DRDB to two senior Customs officers, in recognition of their participation and commitment to advancing national security goals.
