The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a major step to strengthen border security and intelligence gathering with the deployment of an INTERPOL Data Centre at its Headquarters in Abuja, providing officers with direct access to one of the world’s largest criminal intelligence networks.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development during a demonstration of the facility, describing it as a significant milestone in the Service’s technology-driven transformation and intelligence-led enforcement strategy.
According to Adeniyi, modern Customs enforcement has gone beyond traditional compliance measures, with technology becoming indispensable in combating transnational crime. He disclosed that the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigeria Customs Service and INTERPOL would further strengthen collaboration in intelligence sharing and law enforcement.
The Customs boss also showcased the Service’s indigenous B’Odogwu digital platform, saying it represents an innovative solution capable of enhancing trade facilitation not only in Nigeria but across Customs administrations in Africa.
INTERPOL Consultant, Chikwe Udensi, explained that the newly deployed facility is the eighth INTERPOL Data Centre in Africa. He said it gives Customs officers access to more than 152 global criminal databases containing information on stolen vehicles, vessels, cargo, parcels and other transported assets.
Udensi noted that the platform enables officers to instantly verify whether goods or transport assets have been reported stolen anywhere in the world, thereby strengthening investigations, improving border security and enhancing revenue generation through real-time intelligence.
Also speaking, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi, said officers have already undergone training to operate the system, which has been fully integrated into the Service’s ICT infrastructure.
Bomodi added that beyond intelligence gathering, the platform will improve cargo profiling, valuation and risk assessment by providing accurate information on the description, movement and origin of goods, further boosting the Service’s efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders while facilitating legitimate trade.
