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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Monday, hosted a well-attended Joint Border Management stakeholders’ engagement to discuss major impediments to free flow of trade. In attendance were the Chargè d’affaires of the Nigeria Embassy to Benin republic, heads of sister security agencies such as the Air Force, Navy and the Nigerian Army. Others were heads of paramilitary agencies such as the Police, Immigration, Nigerian Quarantine Service, Federal Road Safety Corps including traditional rulers and various community heads. Freight forwarders and others attended and participated in the robust engagement. The Benin Republic  Customs, traditional rulers and representatives of business communities along the trade corridor also  recorded  an impressive attendance.
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‎The parley which was largely interactive was in pursuant of a standing mandate  by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, that all identified impediments to free flow of trade are eradicated in line with the extant laws and  ECOWAS protocols of free movement of goods and persons.
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‎In his opening remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga described the Seme-Krake border as  strategic to trade in the West African sub region as it plays a critical role in intra- African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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‎The border post, he explained, holds great economic potentials to the benefit of citizens and traders from the two nations that share historic, cultural and trade relationships dating back to  the pre-independence era.
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‎Top on the list of identified impediments to trading along the corridor was the persistent presence of uncountable checkpoints mounted by state actors and non-state actors alike .

CAC Adenuga (centre) in a group photograph with traditional rulers, heads of security agencies and others.

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‎In his presentation, Deputy Controller of Immigration Joseph Orji, who stood in for Peter Aduche, Head, Lagos State Border Patrol Team, attempted an explanation of their presence on the road, explaining that in the line of duty, Immigration deals with human beings. However, he admitted, it will be best for everyone to work with the fear of God. And when this happens, seamless trade facilitation takes place.
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‎Chief Tunde Diro, a representative of the Akran of Badagry vocally condemned the multiplicity of checkpoints within short distances along the Badagry-Seme road and said it is disgraceful. A case in point  Gbaji after the long bridge.

‎He deplored a situation where overlap of same functions exists with agencies and even non-state actors working at cross purposes to embarrass tourists and others on legitimate business.
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‎Speaking, Hon Joseph Agoro, a community chief, equally deplored the level of harassment that commuters suffer in the hands of different agencies along the route insisting it was high time the menace was addressed. He lamented the level of indiscipline some officers exhibit and demanded urgent action. “Show us some respect and we shall return to you”, he declared.

‎Most speakers condemned the use of rude and insolent camp boys by different agencies to harass and extort money along the corridor. To overcome this, they advocated continuous training and inter-agency meeting. For instance, they lamented frequent unreasonable demands by some officers of the Nigerian Quarantine Service, an act that is crippling commodity trading businesses.
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‎Contributing on behalf of the ECOWAS Business Forum, Mrs Omotola Amani focused on sexual harassment of the opposite sex who strive to grow their businesses along the corridor.
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‎Other speakers called on various agencies to expand employment of the youths as a way to control restiveness. They also asked Customs to revive the abandoned Customs Secondary School project in Badagry as part of her corporate social responsibility.
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‎ Captain H.I. Maidugu of the Nigerian Air Force recalled that some unscrupulous persons use the corridor for human trafficking. Often times, many girls about to be trafficked have been intercepted at checkpoints. He announced that notwithstanding, any of his officers caught in dismeanour would always face stiff sanctions.
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‎In the end, Comptroller Wale Adenuga itemised some of the resolutions which he promised to escalate to appropriate authorities for consideration. These included a  reduction in the number of checkpoints along the route to make the corridor more business-friendly.
‎On employment, he made it clear that  selection for Customs job is purely merit -based.  External influence plays no role. He promised that Customs would revitalise the abandoned school project.
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‎CAC Adenuga called on entrepreneurs top establish industries to tap into the abundant coconut in the area for the making of finished products as this would create job opportunities for the indigenous people especially the youths.
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‎The engagement encouraged Nigerians and other nationals to get their National Identification Cards to avoid cases of embarrassment while transiting along the corridor.
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‎The usual monthly inter-agency meeting, the CAC assured, is to be strengthened to  deepen and expand the existing synergy.
‎He advised various communities to try to cooperate with all government agencies while their legitimate complaints would  be addressed.
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‎Comptroller Adenuga stressed that any officer or non-state actor caught impeding  free movement of persons and goods that have met all formal conditions shall be arrested and prosecuted.

‎He urged all travelers and traders to bring their complainants to him directly or call the PRO for immediate and prompt action.
‎Truck examination, he said, shall be conducted at the designated examination bays to streamline the process of importation into Nigeria from the neighbouring country.
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‎ Head of Benin Customs at the Krake border, Lt. Col Arnaud Midgrokan, who  doubles as Co-Chair of the JBP, appreciated Comptroller Adenuga for the meeting and expressed optimism that the engagement would open avenues to solutions for all identified challenges.

‎He promised cooperation and regular collaboration with his Nigerian counterpart to promote lawful commercial activities and continually ensure zero compromise to the joint agreements of both countries.
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