Nigeria Customs, WCO, JICA Launch West Africa’s First Geospatial Intelligence Master Trainer Programme

Nigeria Customs, WCO, JICA Launch West Africa’s First Geospatial Intelligence Master Trainer Programme

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at boosting border security and enhancing regional customs capacity, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership 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, which commenced on Monday, June 2, 2025, in Abuja, brings together customs officers from across the region to equip them with advanced skills in using geospatial technologies for mapping, monitoring, and analysing border activities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the programme as a milestone achievement resulting from nearly a decade of sustained collaboration, innovation, and capacity building.

“This initiative represents a new chapter in our efforts to harness cutting-edge technologies in securing our borders and tackling transnational crimes such as smuggling and trafficking,” he said. “I commend WCO and JICA for their commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leader in geospatial intelligence within the region.”

Adeniyi noted that as international trade continues to expand, so do the complexities of the global supply chain and the methods used by criminal networks. “This calls for equally sophisticated responses and proactive border management strategies,” he added.

Also speaking, WCO representative Motohiro Fujimitsu described the initiative as a "game-changer" for managing fragile and complex border environments in West Africa.

JICA’s Chief Representative, Yuzurio Susumu, reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting Nigeria and the region in developing modern, resilient border control systems through the application of geospatial intelligence.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Dera Nnadi, from the Strategic Research and Policy Department, urged participants to fully engage with the training and apply the knowledge to protect their borders effectively.

The WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme is expected to lay the foundation for sustainable training structures within West African Customs administrations, helping to ensure long-term regional security and trade facilitation.