The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said that despite the high‑spirited mood typical of election seasons, his administration will ensure Nigerians vote in an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections on February 25 and March 11, 2023. “I have made it a cardinal commitment to ensure each Nigerian is able to exercise his franchise by participating in a free and fair election… it is our objective to ensure this takes place in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere,” Buhari declared when he received Dr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary‑General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), at the State House, Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Dr Mikuriya is in Nigeria for a Global Conference on Fragile Borders themed “Enabling Customs in Fragile and Conflict‑Affected Situations.” The statement, titled “How fragile borders fuel terrorism, economic sabotage, and illicit flow of arms, by President Buhari,” praised Mikuriya’s fourth visit to Nigeria, noting its timing as the electorate prepares to go to the polls. Buhari reiterated his commitment: “I have made it a cardinal commitment to ensure each Nigerian is able to exercise his franchise by participating in a free and fair election, in true practice of our relatively nascent democracy. It is our objective to ensure this takes place in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere, despite all the usual excitement and gamesmanship that is known to occur during election campaigning.”
Buhari lamented that porous borders across many African states, and the resulting proliferation of illicit arms, are fueling economic sabotage and prolonging the fight against terrorism. He argued that Nigeria and its neighbours must place a higher premium on effective border policing, as fragile entry points enhance terrorist activity. “It is quite frankly the singular most concerning sub‑issue in our national security agenda. The fragility of our borders has been a major Achilles heel in our fight against terrorism, economic sabotage and the illicit flow of small and light weapons,” he remarked.
The President lauded the timeliness of the Global Conference on Fragile Borders, expressing delight that the WCO dedicated an entire conference to this subject. He said the event recognises the importance of border security and provides working sessions and brainstorming opportunities that are “of critical importance for us as a country as we go to the polls, but equally important to most countries on the continent, and dare I say the world.” Buhari briefed the WCO delegation on several initiatives his regime has undertaken to combat the challenges of fragile borders, including the 2019 National Security Strategy, which promotes close inter‑agency cooperation, and the National Counter‑Terrorism Strategy, which supports the armed forces in securing the borders. He highlighted strong political will to support the Nigeria Customs Service as a critical agency for security and revenue, the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a new Customs Modernisation Project that integrates technology into border operations, and ongoing reforms to the Customs enabling law that will strengthen the service and impose harsher sanctions against smuggling and other crimes.
Dr Mikuriya thanked Nigeria for hosting the three‑day conference and described the WCO as a 184‑member worldwide organisation in which Nigeria plays an active and vibrant role. He stressed that customs services must go beyond revenue generation and focus on security, noting that “without security at the borders, we cannot effectively collect revenue.” Mikuriya lamented that customs officials are often targets of terrorists and armed groups, emphasizing the need for collaboration with other security agencies, intelligence sharing, and the deployment of technology.
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