By Bavoriat Clara
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 strengthened collaboration and support to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Borno/Yobe States Zonal Command, to ensure the effective discharge of their respective mandates in the North East.
Brigadier General Unachukwu gave the assurance on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, when the Zonal Controller of the NCS, Borno/Yobe States Command, Mr Muhammed Idris, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of 7 Division at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
In a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Mohammed Sani, the GOC described the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service as longstanding and symbiotic, noting that both institutions play critical roles in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and economic stability.
He emphasized that the NCS remains a key revenue-generating agency of the Federal Government, whose operations particularly in the North East, require sustained inter-agency cooperation.
According to him, enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian Army would further support Customs operations within the theatre of Operation HADIN KAI, especially in addressing security challenges along border communities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Zonal Controller, Mr Muhammed Idris, said the visit was aimed at appreciating the Nigerian Army for its continuous support while seeking deeper cooperation to improve operational effectiveness.
He noted that the NCS operates largely along border areas in the region and that Borno State, in particular, shares multiple international borders that have been impacted by insurgent activities.
Mr Idris stressed that closer collaboration with the Nigerian Army was essential to enable the Customs Service to carry out its statutory responsibilities and contribute effectively to security and economic stability in the region.
Highlights of the visit included strategic discussions between both parties, exchange of souvenirs, signing of the Division’s visitors’ book, and a group photograph.
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