Odita Sunday 
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Sector 1, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, has pledged enhanced collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to strengthen security and operational effectiveness in the North-East.
Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Mohammed Sani, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division Nigerian Army, said the GOC made the commitment on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when the Zonal Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Borno/Yobe States Command, Mr Muhammed Idris, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of 7 Division at Maimalari Cantonment.
According to the GOC, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service share a long-standing and mutually reinforcing relationship that spans decades and remains critical to Nigeria’s survival as a sovereign state.
Brigadier General Unachukwu noted that both institutions play complementary roles in safeguarding national security and economic stability, stressing that effective collaboration is essential, particularly in the North-East theatre of operations.
He further described the Nigeria Customs Service as a key revenue-generating agency whose mandate requires strong inter-agency cooperation, especially in conflict-prone areas where security challenges directly impact border management and economic activities.
“The success of Customs operations in the North-East depends largely on synergy with the Nigerian Army, particularly under the current security realities,” the GOC stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Controller of the NCS Borno/Yobe States Zonal Command, Mr Muhammed Idris, said the visit was to express appreciation to the 7 Division for its continuous support, while also seeking stronger collaboration.
He explained that Customs operations in the region are largely concentrated around border areas, noting that Borno State shares multiple international borders that have been affected by insurgent activities.
According to him, the security situation makes cooperation with the Nigerian Army indispensable in enabling the Service to operate effectively and fulfil its statutory responsibilities.
Highlights of the visit included strategic security discussions, presentation of souvenirs, signing of the Division’s visitors’ book and a group photograph, symbolising renewed commitment to inter-agency cooperation.
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