Use firearms for self-defence only, Customs CG warns officers

The acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has warned officers and men of the service to apply tactical measures in dealing with citizens before using firearms.

Adeniyi said this in a statement on Thursday during the official declaration of a sensitisation workshop on the practical implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

The workshop held in Abuja was for comptrollers and assistant legal advisers.

Adeniyi said that the use of firearms could only be applied in extreme circumstances that require self-defence.

He said, “We must not, in any circumstance, use firearms except we have an absolute necessity for using it. The citizens of this country are there for us to protect.”

Meanwhile, the Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to use the already appropriated N14.2bn in the 2023 budget for the construction of the Nigerian Customs Academy in Bauchi State.

It also mandated its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, when constituted, to embark on effective oversight of the construction and completion of the envisioned one-stop shop operational centre for the revenue-generating agency.