By Mariam Abeeb
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Fire Service (FFS), and Unilever Nigeria PLC, signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at the NCS Headquarters, Abuja, to strengthen inter-agency and public-private collaboration, enhance security, protect legitimate trade, safeguard lives and consumers, and support Nigeria’s economic growth.
During his engagement with the FFS, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the MoU as a bold, deliberate and strategic step towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration and supporting the shared mandates of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets.
He said the agreement would enhance fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid response to emergencies, support joint training and capacity building, and promote information sharing on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” Adeniyi said.
The Controller-General of the FFS Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as the first strong MoU between the Fire Service and a sister agency, assuring that the FFS would deploy its capacity to protect Customs personnel and assets.
Similarly, during a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria PLC, the CGC said the partnership reflected the Service’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the private sector, particularly in addressing challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
He said the agreement would strengthen cooperation in counterfeiting prevention, intelligence sharing, and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
Adeniyi added that the MoU would provide a structured channel for real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples, noting that engagements with private-sector stakeholders often provide useful insights that influence Customs policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” he stated, while appreciating Unilever’s sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in Nigeria and describing the company as a major partner in the country’s trade and industrial sector.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC, Tobi Adeniyi, highlighted the company’s long-standing presence in Nigeria since 1923, noting that more than 70 per cent of its raw materials had been localised and that the company supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He commended the NCS for its transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other trade facilitation measures.
Tobi said previous engagements with the NCS had already produced practical results, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
He reaffirmed Unilever’s commitment to working with the Service to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expanding the partnership through further engagements across the country.
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