WCO, NCS, JICA Launch First Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence in West Africa

As part of a significant move to strengthen border security and improve regional capacity, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched the first-ever WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) in West Africa.

The week-long programme commenced on 2 June 2025 in Abuja, drawing participants from Customs administrations across the region. The training aims to equip officers with the technical know-how to deploy geospatial technologies for mapping, analysing, and monitoring border activities.

Declaring the programme open, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to boost trade security and combat transnational crimes such as smuggling and trafficking.

According to him, "What we are witnessing today is the fruition of nearly a decade of sustained collaboration, innovation and capacity building. I wish to commend both WCO and JICA for providing us with the opportunity to emerge as one of the leading Customs administrations in fostering GEOINT capacity within our region."

He continued, "This recognition comes with both pride and responsibility, as we continue to serve as a model for other Customs Administrations seeking to enhance their border management capabilities. As transnational trade continues to expand exponentially, criminals demonstrate increasing ingenuity in evading technology within Customs Operations.

The complexities of the modern supply chain, coupled with sophistication of criminal methods operating across multiple jurisdictions demand equally sophisticated response mechanisms."

WCO representative, Motohiro Fujimitsu, hailed the initiative as a game-changer for managing fragile borders in West Africa, while JICA Chief Representative, Yuzurio Susumu, expressed Japan’s commitment to helping Nigeria and the region build resilient and modern border control systems through geospatial intelligence.

Delivering the vote of thanks at the training session, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dera Nnadi, from the Strategic Research and Policy Department, urged participants to make full use of the training to protect their various borders.

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