Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a significant event at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared the commencement of Exercise ‘Haske Biyu’ 2024, focusing on internal security and low-intensity conflict operations.
Adeniyi expressed gratitude for the invitation and emphasized the crucial role of joint collaboration among law enforcement agencies.
“The importance of joint and multi-agency collaboration in internal security and low-intensity conflict operations amongst law enforcement agencies and the military cannot be over-emphasized,” he said.
The Comptroller-General outlined the exercise’s objectives, emphasizing the importance of broadening knowledge in military operations beyond war. Referring to the ‘Securite Par Collaboracion’ project launched in 2016, he highlighted its impact on fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing amid increased insurgency in the Northwest region.
Highlighting the objectives of Exercise Haske Biyu, the Comptroller-General remarked, “The objective of Exercise ‘Haske Biyu’ is to broaden your individual and collective knowledge and understanding of military operations other than war with emphasis on internal security and counter-insurgency operations.”
Addressing the impact of security trends on Customs operations, Adeniyi stressed the role of soft power in conflict resolution. He urged participants to consider this three-week training as an opportunity to enhance conflict resolution and management mechanisms.
“The impact of the current security trends has also been felt on Customs, especially as the gatekeepers of the Nation.”
The custom boss also expressed optimism that the three weeks of training will equip the participants to delve into conflict resolution and management mechanisms, adding, “I would like to emphasize that you all consider the use of soft power as an effective tool for termination of conflicts.”
Speaking further, the Comptroller-General outlined the broader significance of initiatives like Exercise ‘Haske Biyu’ in fostering collaborative engagements and strengthening national security.
“Initiatives like these should benefit not just the participants but, like other joint engagements, should be seen as an opportunity to foster collaborative engagements in promoting inter-agency relationships to strengthen our National security,” he said.
Acknowledging the synergy between the Nigeria Customs Service and the military, the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Idris Alhaji, applauded the collaboration.
He emphasized the exercise’s significance in addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges, urging participants to seize the opportunity for self-improvement.
He raised concern over the current security situation in some parts of the country and expressed optimism that
the new approach will address the common problems in Nigeria, “That is why we have this range of stakeholders participating in this exercise.” he said.
He added, “It is therefore expected that this exercise will enable the participants to build their capacity as well as understand their limitations and how best they can address those as best as possible. As representatives from the various stakeholders, you participants ought to take maximum advantage of the opportunity created by the exercise for self-improvement.”
The commandant expressed optimism that the exercise would provide practical solutions to internal security issues, encouraging participants to actively engage in knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Adeniyi formally declared Exercise ‘Haske Biyu’ 2024 open, reinforcing the commitment to strengthen national security through inter-agency relationships.