Ogunsan tasks security agencies on sustained war against smuggling, transnational crime

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, has urged security agencies to sustain the fight against smuggling and transnational crimes, stressing the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration to address emerging security threats.

Ogunsan spoke at his office in Alausa, Lagos, while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), led by the Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Oladapo Afeni.

He noted that modern security challenges were becoming increasingly interconnected, cutting across territorial borders, commercial corridors and the operational jurisdictions of government agencies.

According to him, the trafficking of prohibited goods, proliferation of illicit weapons and sophisticated criminal networks exploiting gaps in law enforcement underscore the urgent need for a more integrated security framework.

He said the meeting explored opportunities for stronger cooperation between the two institutions in Lagos, with a view to reinforcing the broader national security architecture.

Ogunsan expressed optimism about the prospects of a mutually beneficial partnership between the LSSTF and the Customs Service, indicating the Fund’s readiness to explore areas of cooperation, particularly in providing improved equipment, logistics and institutional support to strengthen security operations.

“There are a lot of things we could do together,” he said.

He explained that security management extended beyond conventional policing and military operations to include the activities of agencies responsible for preventing the entry of prohibited goods, intercepting illicit consignments and enforcing laws governing the movement of goods across Nigeria’s borders.

Ogunsan noted that Customs enforcement played a critical role in safeguarding lives, protecting public institutions and preventing criminal elements from exploiting importation channels to introduce dangerous and prohibited items into the country.

Illustrating the deterrent effect of Customs operations, he recalled an occasion when a driver travelling at high speed became apprehensive upon sighting Customs officers on the road.

He said the incident demonstrated how the visible presence of law enforcement personnel could discourage potential offenders and promote compliance with the law.

According to him, sustained enforcement and effective collaboration among security agencies would help close operational gaps and strengthen efforts to combat criminal activities.

In his remarks, Afeni thanked Ogunsan for the warm reception, describing it as a demonstration of the LSSTF chief’s willingness to establish a working relationship with the Customs Service in pursuit of their shared security objectives.

He explained that the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, headquartered in Lagos, was responsible for anti-smuggling operations and enforcement across the South-West.

Afeni expressed confidence that collaboration between the two institutions would strengthen security in Lagos and other states in the region.

“I believe we can synergise to ensure that Lagos is free and, by extension, the entire South-West is free of crime,” he said.

He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership, noting that the Service had continued to prioritise national interests and border security.

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