Customs Sets To Streamline Checkpoints On Seme Road
The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has assured stakeholders and communities in Seme border area that he will be working with other sister agencies to streamline checkpoints for free movement of legitimate trade and people.
Speaking while on official visit to Badagry Seme Customs Command, CG Adeniyi stressed that national security is the business of all and that it should not be left for security agencies alone, charging the communities to be providing useful information that will help to improve security in the area.
His words: "When it comes to border security, management and others, the Customs plays a very important role. But of course, we know that we cannot play this role successfully without collaborating with other agencies who also have their mandates in and around the borders. We must draw strength from the complementing our operations.
"This should be a collective charge for all of us. I charge us, let us work together to see how we can rationalize these checkpoints. Bearing in mind, of course, some peculiarities for our agencies. I understand that the situation for one agency might be different from the other, but I believe that if we sit together and map the entire corridor from here to Badagry and from here to Mile 2, we should be able to find a way to see how we can rationalize this.
Adeniyi also urged stakeholders at Seme border to help with credible information that will be of immense benefits to Customs and stakeholders on illegal activities in and around the border post.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi stated that the Seme border accounts for about 70 per cent of the transit traffic in the ECOWAS sub-region.
Comptroller Dera noted that the revenue target for the year 2023 amount to N1.96billion which represents 67 percent of its given target.
“Several factors have been adjudged to hamper trade between Nigeria and her proximate neighbour within the sub-region especially transit trade across the countries and along the corridor. There have been several complaints by operators against the closure of the borders, the non-adherence to transit agreements signed under the ECOWAS, World Trade Organisation, WTO, World Customs Organisation, WCO, and the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff.
“As I conclude, let me mention that the facility we have here need constant upgrading, the vehicle and truck parks need to be paved, the flood lights need to be replaced. On our part, effort is being made to remove the unapproved checkpoints along the corridor. In the same vein, we thank the Federal Government for the intervention in repairing the road along the corridor and leading into Seme-Krake JBP".