By Ifeyinwa Obi

Abuja—The Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Dikko Inde Abdullahi yesterday stressed the need for stronger collaboration and synergy amongst regional organizations in the West and Central Africa,  stating that the “reality of our time” has made it mandatory.

Dikko made the observation at the opening ceremony of the sub-regional meeting of the World Customs Organization in Abuja, even as the WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya emphasized that until the menace disease and insurgency was collectively and regionally fought, there would be no enduring victory.

“When we work together , we win together. With the dynamics of international trade and complex nature of border security, we must see ourselves as partners with other Government agencies within and outside our borders.

“The reality of our time imposes on us the obligation of collaboration among all partner agencies of Government; using information technology (IT) and various WCO tools as support”, the Comptroller General said, pointing out that more efforts , more success would be delivered, if stakeholders work on synergies and efficiency.

Speaking on the theme “Coordinated Border Management, an  inclusive approach to connecting stakeholders”, Dikko said the Abuja meeting initiative which recently saw Nigeria, Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger  brainstorming on a collaborative approach of combating cross-border terrorism within the region had begun to yield positive results; in addition to assisting to streamline transit trade between Nigeria and the neighbouring States of Benin and Niger.

“I equally want to recall our resolve against the dreaded Ebola Virus, sympathising with families of affected victims, even as stressed that “from our experience here in Nigeria, no challenge is strong enough to withstand our resolute and collective efforts”.

He, however, stressed the need for capacity building, through training and retraining of officers, as well as the employment of talented youths, noting that it is their engagement, and training that the emergence of the desired modernized Customs Service would be realized.