The Nigeria Navy has handed over more than three hundred bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service, following successful anti-smuggling operations along the Nigeria-Benin Republic borders.
This is in furtherance of the Nigerian Navy’s mandate to support civil authorities in combating smuggling and other cross-border economic crimes.
In a press release signed by Navy Captain Busuyi Omotayo, the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry said, “in line with Nigerian Navy Standard Operating Procedures, the Base handed over 372 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice. While 302 bags went to the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, 70 bags were handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command for further necessary action”.
Captain Omotayo said, “The achievement is in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to build a professional Naval force dedicated to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime interests in collaboration with other security agencies”.
He stressed that the Navy has subsequently sustained operational efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain and adjacent land area”.
The release said the breakthrough was achieved through professionalism and dedication, even as the Command focuses on building stronger ties with host communities, sister services and other security agencies in the fight against transactional crimes and other treats to the nation’s economy.