Mrs Jayne Shoboiki, the new Area Controller of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport, has urged the federal agencies to synergise and achieve their targets.
Shoboiki made the call on Tuesday during her familiarisation visits to other security outfits stationed at the airport.
These include the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Airport Command, the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), the Lagos Airport Police Command, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Shoboiki said: “It is necessary for me to come around to visit the sister agencies; we have a common goal of security and revenue generation for the Federal Government.
“We need to collaborate to meet the demands of the government. I am wholeheartedly soliciting for your support.”
She explained that potential threats and loopholes in the operational system would be prevented and plugged through effective synergy among the federal security agencies.
Shoboiki urged the command of the NIS to continue to collaborate with the Customs at the airport in the overall interest of the nation.
“Both government agencies are at the airport to improve the image of the country, especially with foreigners, apart from revenue generation for the government,” she said.
Shoboiki observed that many foreigners already had negative impression of Nigeria, but noted that through dedication to duties by officers at the airport, such negative impression could be erased.
Responding, the NIS Comptroller, Mr Dikko Yashe, promised to support Shoboiki’s command in its efforts to enhance synergy in their collective responsibilities.
Yashe noted that both agencies are working for same goals of security and revenue generation for the government, and therefore should not compete with each other.
He urged Shoboiki and her team to sustain the cordial relationship with NIS for the purpose of tackling insecurity in the country, saying it is necessary share vital information.
Also, Shoboiki visited the NAF office, where she was received by the Air Force Commandant, Mr Francis Ankeli who promised to always support activities of the NCS.
Ankeli explained that besides providing security at the airport, NAF participates in Air Traffic Service in the event of industrial action by Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in particular.
“We are duly badged with the On-Duty-Card (ODC). We have purely civil-military relationship at the airport.
“We are ready to give maximum support to the Customs,” he said.
Receiving Shoboiki at the Police Command, Mr Usman Abdullahi, Police Commissioner, Airports Command, said security of the airport is a collective responsibility of all the federal agencies, which required mutual cooperation.
During Shoboiki’s visit to FAAN, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba, the Acting Regional Manager, South West Airports, called for enhanced synergy.
She said rivalry has no place in the collaboration the FAAN Aviation Security (AVSEC) has with other federal agencies at the airport.
Shin-Aba noted that the usual bottlenecks among government agencies had reduced with the proclamation of the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business.
She pledged to continue to ensure decorum at all times.
