By Ajibola Adedoye
The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the fight against economic sabotage as its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry intercepted and handed over 419 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command.
The successful handover followed a series of coordinated anti-smuggling operations by the Navy’s Quick Response Teams along the Badagry–Porto Novo Creek and adjoining waterways — corridors long exploited by smugglers seeking to evade border checks.
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During the official handover ceremony, the Commanding Officer, FOB Badagry, Navy Captain B.O. Omotayo, represented by Lieutenant Commander S.O. Talabi, said the operation underscores the Navy’s resolve to secure Nigeria’s maritime environment and protect national economic interests.
“Our actions align with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s Strategic Directive 06–2023, which prioritizes maritime safety and economic security as critical pillars of national development,” Captain Omotayo affirmed.
He commended naval personnel for their professionalism and vigilance, which, he said, continue to frustrate the efforts of cross-border criminal syndicates.
“We will maintain intelligence-driven patrols and work closely with sister security agencies to ensure that smuggling networks are neutralized and economic saboteurs have no safe haven,” he added.
The Navy reiterated its warning to smugglers to desist from illegal trade activities, stressing that sustained inter-agency collaboration would continue to strengthen border security and safeguard Nigeria’s economic integrity.
The transfer of the seized goods to Customs was conducted in line with the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure (HSOP) for inter-agency cooperation, reflecting the growing synergy among security agencies in tackling smuggling and maritime crimes.
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