The Customs Area Controller(CAC), Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga has commenced a series of stakeholders engagements on Monday, 6 October 2025 to enhance national security and facilitate legitimate trade along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
Comptroller Adenuga said the meeting which is aimed at making the Seme transit corridor effective and secure is following the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and promoting cooperation among security agencies while respecting the rights and dignity of border community dwellers.
He said, “we want everyone to express their minds and tell ourselves the bitter truths. The more we facilitate legitimate trade, the better for our country. When trade thrives, crime reduces. That is the vision our Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has consistently championed, building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic growth.”
The CAC who reminded stakeholders including sister security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, trade groups and youths that Seme Border plays a pivotal role in regional trade in West Africa, said trade can only flourish in an atmosphere of security and orderliness.
Comptroller Adenuga reiterated the CGC’s commitment to the promotion of seamless movement of persons and goods across Seme and expressed the negative impact of multiple checkpoints by various agencies.
He described too many checkpoints from Seme to Badagry as impediments to trade and and a major cause of delay for legitimate travelers while urging all agencies present to be compliant to laws and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) guiding their operations.
The stakeholders, including the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro Olalekan James;
Onibereko of Ibereko, Oba Israel Adewale Okoya; Col. S.B.Yahaya, Defence Atrachee to Nigeria Embassy in Port Novo who represented the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic; police, intelligence,military and paramilitary heads; members of the border communities and traders all agreed to work together.
Highpoint of the four hours meeting was a resolution to reduce checkpoints along the roads leading in and out of the Seme border as a way to facilitate trade,encourage investment and promote the tourism potentials in the area.
They also agreed to always place national interest, unity while showing respect for the rights and dignity of all travelers and traders operating in Seme.
The meeting also resolved to dismiss unauthorized persons also called camp boys at some checkpoints as they were accused of causing obstruction and harrasment of travelers along the corridor.
The Area Controller promised to draw the plight of Seme inhabitants to the Customs Management for attention in the areas of completing the ongoing customs secondary school project and getting the area reconnected to electricity after it went into blackout for seven years following the activities of vandals who destroyed their power infrastructure.
The heads of all the security agencies, the traditional rulers and other stakeholders present agreed to sustain the tempo of the meeting.
