The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has disclosed that the Federal Government recovered N658.6 billion in revenue and foiled several arms smuggling attempts across the country in September.

Director-General of the Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated this on Monday during the October Joint Security Press Briefing in Abuja, where he presented the performance highlights of key security and enforcement agencies. He said the outcomes reflected improved coordination, intelligence sharing, and operational efficiency across sectors.

Issa-Onilu revealed that operatives intercepted arms traffickers in Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Ekiti States, recovering M16 rifles, AK-47s, PKT machine guns, and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition in coordinated intelligence-led raids.

“Our security agencies are no longer reacting to threats; they are preventing them. Through collaboration and intelligence, we are protecting lives, securing borders, and restoring public confidence,” Issa-Onilu said.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N658.6 billion in the month under review through enhanced digital enforcement, while also intercepting firearms, industrial drones, and other contraband. He said the Service had introduced a One-Stop-Shop platform to streamline cargo clearance and facilitate trade.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), he added, dismantled 37 major drug cartels, arrested 1,703 suspects comprising 1,509 males and 194 females, and seized over 212,000 kilogrammes of narcotics, including cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamine.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) carried out 40 enforcement operations across the country, confiscating fake medicines, cosmetics, and vegetable oils. The agency also conducted its first joint operation with the Nigerian Navy inside a military barracks, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects.

Issa-Onilu also highlighted achievements by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which responded to 589 crashes, rescuing 3,848 victims, including 1,834 injured persons, while 252 deaths were recorded. He said the Corps had launched an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) to digitise its administrative operations.

He disclosed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recovered N446 million, restrained N172 million, and secured three convictions within the month. The agency also established eight anti-corruption units across MDAs and reached over 41,000 Nigerians through awareness campaigns.

The NOA DG paid tribute to five FRSC officers who died while performing their duties in September, describing their sacrifice as a reminder of the dangers faced by those safeguarding national security.

Issa-Onilu urged citizens to support security agencies through timely information sharing, avoiding misinformation, and upholding civic responsibility.

“Security is not the duty of the uniformed alone; it is a shared civic responsibility. Where there is trust, there is compliance, and where there is cooperation, peace will endure,” he said. (The Guardian)