Customs To Train Officers Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

In its resolve against illegal trade and trafficking in wildlife, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is perfecting arrangements to extend capacity building in the area to all officers and men of the service.
This is as a team of international partners, including the United States, has promised assistance, particularly in training expertise and technology to boost the facilities on ground at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.

Leading the partners in an on-the-spot assessment of the facilities in the college yesterday, the commandant, Haniel Hadison, told the visitors that the facility was ready to receive their expertise and that they should make it a focal point in capacity building with the set objectives.

He said, “We have officers willing to learn, and we the management of the college are also ready to give every support to achieve the set objectives.”

Hadison commended the comptroller-general of customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the customs’ management team for their continued support to the wildlife unit.

Fielding questions after the tour, Hadison said the NCS, especially the wildlife unit, is also part of the United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) celebration, and “that is why the college, being where the wildlife unit of the Nigeria Customs is domiciled, is having the unit partners from other international organisations.

“We used this opportunity also to showcase how far we have journeyed in the fight against illegal trafficking in wildlife.

“So far so good, it has been an excellent outing, and there is much for the Nigeria Customs, particularly the wildlife unit, to achieve from these international partners.’’