.jpg)
By Stella Odueme
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria Plc have entered into separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening collaboration on public safety, legitimate trade, consumer protection and economic development.
The agreements were signed at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, as part of efforts to deepen inter-agency cooperation and strengthen partnerships between government and the private sector, a statement said on Friday.
Speaking during the engagement with the Federal Fire Service, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the agreement as a strategic step towards strengthening cooperation between the two agencies.
Adeniyi said the MoU would support improved fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid emergency response, promote joint training and capacity building, and enhance information sharing on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” he said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as a significant milestone, saying it represented a strong framework for collaboration between the two agencies.
He assured that the Fire Service would deploy its professional capacity to protect Customs personnel, facilities and other assets against fire-related emergencies.
In a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria Plc, Adeniyi said the partnership reflected the Customs Service’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the private sector in tackling challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
He said the agreement would enhance cooperation in combating counterfeiting and illicit trade through intelligence sharing and improved identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
According to him, the MoU would establish a structured channel for the exchange of real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
The CGC noted that engagements with private-sector stakeholders had continued to provide valuable information capable of influencing Customs policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” Adeniyi said.
He commended Unilever for its sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in Nigeria, describing the company as an important partner in the country’s trade and industrial development.
The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Tobi Adeniyi, said the company had maintained a presence in Nigeria since 1923 and had continued to deepen local participation in its operations.
He disclosed that more than 70 per cent of Unilever’s raw materials had been localised, while the company supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.
Tobi commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its ongoing transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other trade facilitation measures.
He said previous engagements between Unilever and the Customs Service had already produced practical outcomes, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
The Unilever chief executive reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working with the NCS to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expressing readiness to expand the partnership through further engagements across the country.
The separate agreements are expected to strengthen cooperation between the Customs Service and its partners while contributing to improved safety, trade facilitation, consumer protection and the broader development of Nigeria’s economy.