By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Gwandu, Kebbi State, In a bold fusion of tradition, security and statecraft, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Saturday carried Nigeria’s border security conversation into the palace of the Emir of Gwandu, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Bashar, signaling a strategic shift that places traditional institutions at the heart of the nation’s anti-smuggling campaign.
The high-profile visit on February 7, 2026, marked a historic moment in the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) stakeholder engagement drive, underscoring the growing recognition that effective border governance cannot be achieved by force alone but through trust, cooperation and community ownership.
Receiving the CGC and his delegation at the Gwandu palace, the Emirate became the stage for a renewed alliance between Customs and traditional authority in Kebbi State, one of Nigeria’s most sensitive border corridors.
CGC Adeniyi, accompanied by senior serving and retired officers including retired Deputy Comptroller-General Bello Mohammed Jibo and retired Assistant Comptroller-General Samba Dangaladima, both prominent sons of the Emirate described the visit as deliberate and strategic.
“Border security is not the work of uniforms alone,” Adeniyi told the monarch. “Traditional rulers are critical partners in sensitising communities, discouraging smuggling and building the trust required for effective enforcement.”
Emir Pledges Grassroots Support
In response, Emir Muhammadu Bashar welcomed the Customs leadership and reaffirmed the commitment of the Gwandu Emirate Council to support the NCS and other security agencies operating in Kebbi State.
The monarch urged residents of border communities to cooperate with authorities by sharing intelligence and resisting the lure of smuggling and other cross-border crimes that threaten economic stability and national security.
From the palace, the CGC proceeded to the Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, where the tone shifted from diplomacy to discipline.
Addressing officers and men of the Command, Adeniyi reminded them that Kebbi is not just another posting but a frontline Command critical to revenue generation and the fight against smuggling.
“Transit integrity is non-negotiable,” he warned. “Goods must move strictly through approved corridors. Any compromise will be met with firm consequences.”
He described Kebbi State as a known route for economic saboteurs, particularly those involved in the illegal export of petroleum products, a reality that necessitated the deployment of special operations in the area.
The CGC disclosed that he had formally conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the reopening of the Tsamiya border, stressing that the development brings heightened responsibility for Customs officers to prevent diversion of transit cargo.
He emphasised that reopening the corridor is about facilitating legitimate trade not reopening the door to criminal networks.
As part of the visit, Adeniyi inspected ongoing ultra-modern projects at the Kebbi Command designed to boost operational capacity and personnel welfare.
He commissioned two key facilities:
The Bashir Adewale Adeniyi E-Learning Centre, aimed at continuous capacity building and digital skills development.
A newly constructed five-aside football pitch named after retired DCG Bello Mohammed Jibo, symbolising recognition of service and investment in staff morale.
The CGC assured officers that the Service would continue to prioritise welfare, training and the deployment of technology to enhance efficiency and accountability.
Ending on the Field, Not the File
In a rare but symbolic finale, Adeniyi swapped his official shoes for sportswear, joining officers and senior Customs officials in a friendly football match on the newly commissioned pitch.
The moment underscored a message beyond enforcement: unity, morale and shared purpose are essential weapons in the fight to secure Nigeria’s borders.
As the CGC departed Gwandu, the message from Kebbi was clear Customs is tightenying its grip on transit integrity, enlisting traditional authority, and drawing a hard line against smuggling, with discipline and diplomacy moving side by side.
