By Steve Agbota
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday convened a high level stakeholders meeting to tackle mutiple checkpoints, border-related crimes, trade barriers and improve legitimate trade along Lagos-Abidjan corridor
Speaking at the meeting, Controller of the Seme command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga lamented the persistence of unwholesome practices and multiple checkpoints along the Seme border corridor (Lagos-Abidjan Corridor) as these illegal activities impede trade facilitation.
However, he called on security agencies and border communities to unite in tackling issues that could tarnish Nigeria’s image and hinder regional commerce.
“The checkpoints we have on the roads are too much, it is disgraceful. The CGC has directed that the checkpoints be reduced and on no account should anyone delay a legitimate business. After this meeting, it will not be business as usual. We will create an implementation committee on all that we have discussed.
”The Comptroller General of Customs is now the number one Customs officer in the world and Nigeria cannot be different from what is obtainable in other part of the world. The more we facilitate legitimate trade, the better for our country. When trade thrives, crime reduces. That is the vision our Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi has consistently championed building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic growth.”
On the plight of the residents, one of the community leaders, Joseph Agoro, argued that majority of the fight and conflicts on the border corridor is caused by camp boys recruited by security agencies along the border route.
He labeled the practice an embarrassment, describing how commuters and residents are often harassed and questioned by individuals who are not legitimate officers.
“Multiple checkpoints is already problematic. It is more embarrassing to be stopped by Customs and other security agencies, especially the Police, and someone who isn’t an officer would begin questioning passengers. We don’t know who is attending to us.
“There is no way the residents and villagers wouldn’t complain with such unfair treatments from camp boys. Why should we be harassed just for living along the border corridor,” he said.
On his part, the Oba of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Oba Sejiro Ogungbe expressed appreciation to the Customs for reducing frequent clashes between Customs and smugglers in communities, which he said, often leads to avoidable deaths.
Also speaking, Alhaji Yusuf Bashir Mohammed, Chairman, Community Development Committee of Badagry West LCDA said that the stakeholders meeting are becoming monotonous and it had not address any major challenges, especially that of multiple checkpoints.
“Every of our meetings is repetition of all same issues, multiple checkpoints, campboys and so on.
The communities have mandated me now that we are coming out to protest widely against multiple checkpoints, for the past seven years we have not had light, our electricity facilities are being vandalised and carted away despite the multiple checkpoints.
“There is female harassment by the military officers at the checkpoints.
The Suntan Beach is losing patronage due to immigration extortion, many of them deliberately don’t wear their name tags.
“If the pressure gets too much, there is no way we would be able to control our youths, and we dont want security collapse in Badagry, we dont want another Boko Haram situation here” he said
Mohammed appealed to customs hierarchy to extend its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the indigenes and youths of the Badagrycommunity, especially job employments. According to him, many of the youths are idle.
Responding, Controller Adenuga, assured that the multiple checkpoints would be reduced in no distance time.
He said the Comptroller General of Customs is working closely with the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to address the issue.
Adenuga also issued a note of warning to other security agencies, saying, “If you don’t have any business to do on that road, don’t go there. If you refuse to comply, you would be arrested because I have the backing of the Comptroller General.”
On the use of camp boys, Adenuga warned that any officer who make use of camp boys will be dealt with appropriately as the Service has since abolish the use of camp boys.
Representative of the Nigerian Air Force, Badagry, Capt. H.I Medugu thanked Comptroller Adenuga for initiating the stakeholders meeting
due to several complaints along the border route.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Ambassador Olukayode Olugbenga Aluko (represented by the Defense Attache, Colonel S. Yahaya), assured that all the takeaways at the meeting would be fully implemented.
The stakeholders meeting brought together representatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Army, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), traditional rulers, and various trade associations, including freight forwarders and community leaders.
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