The Customs
Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration to enhance maritime security and support smooth port operations in Onne, Rivers State.
Comptroller Alkali gave the assurance on Tuesday, 4 February 2026, when he received the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Rear Admiral A. Mohammed, and his entourage on a courtesy visit to the Command.
The visit, according to a press statement issued to newsmen the same day by the Ag. Public Relations Officer of the Command, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Paul Gimba, was aimed at strengthening cooperation in the interest of national security and operational efficiency.
Speaking during the visit, the Area Controller commended the Nigerian Navy for its critical role in maintaining a secure maritime environment, noting that effective Customs operations depend largely on a safe and stable port ecosystem.
He said sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Navy remains vital in protecting port infrastructure, facilitating legitimate trade and safeguarding national economic interests.
Comptroller Alkali assured the visiting naval delegation of the Command’s readiness to continue working closely with the Navy through intelligence sharing, joint engagements and mutual support, in line with the Service’s mandate to protect revenue and support national development.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Rear Admiral Mohammed, described the long-standing relationship between the Military and the Nigeria Customs Service as indispensable to national security.
He stressed that preventing security breaches at the ports requires constant synergy among security agencies, rather than reactive measures after infractions have occurred.
The Naval Commandant reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening its collaboration with the Port Harcourt Area II Command, particularly in areas of maritime security, operational support and training, to ensure the safety of port users and the wider trading community.
The visit concluded with the exchange of souvenirs and a group photograph, symbolising the shared resolve of both agencies to promote professionalism, security and efficient port operations in support of Nigeria’s economic growth.
