DC Agwu Takes Over North Western Marine, Pledges Stronger Enforcement Against Smuggling
By Muhammad Bashir
The newly appointed Acting Comptroller, North Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Nnamdi Agwu, has assumed office, committed to consolidating the Command’s gains and strengthening its enforcement capacity against illegal importation and other illicit activities through Nigeria’s waterways.
Agwu committed on Friday, 2 October 2026, when he formally took over the leadership of the Command from his predecessor, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Halliru Abdullahi, in Lokoja, Kogi State, during a change of command ceremony, assuring that he would deploy his experience and work closely with officers and relevant stakeholders to advance the mandate of the Command.
DC Agwu described the North Western Marine Command as a strategic formation of the Service, given its responsibility for monitoring the waterways and supporting Customs’ efforts to prevent the movement of prohibited and illicit goods through maritime routes.
“We are coming here to consolidate what has already been achieved and to see how we can do even better. The waterways are strategic to our national economy, and we must remain vigilant to ensure that they are not exploited for illegal importation and other activities that undermine legitimate trade.” DC Agwu said.
The Acting Comptroller said effective surveillance, intelligence-led enforcement and professionalism would remain central to the Command’s operations, noting that the nature of its responsibilities required constant vigilance across the waterways.
Speaking during the Taking Over, the outgoing Acting Comptroller, DC Halliru Abdullahi, said his tenure was guided by the responsibility to protect the waterways and contribute to the wider enforcement objectives of the NCS.
“I am confident that the Command is being handed over to a capable officer who understands the responsibilities before him. I urge our officers to give him the same cooperation and commitment required to move the Command forward, because the success of the Service depends largely on our ability to work together towards a common objective.” DC Abdullahi said.
