Comptroller Adenuga Mobilises Seme Stakeholders for National Security and Trade Facilitation.

By Joe Njoku,
Global Freight News.

The Customs Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga has commenced a series of stakeholders to engagement to enhance national security and facilitate legitimate trade along the Abidjan Lagos corridor.

Comptroller Adenuga said the meeting which aimed at making the Seme transit corridor more effective and secure following the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and promoting cooperation among security agencies while respecting the right and dignity of border community dwellers.

According to him,”We want everyone to express their minds and tell ourselves the bitter truth. The more we facilitate legitimate trade, the better for our country. When trade thrives, crime reduces. That is the vision our Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR y has consistently championed, building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic stability.

He reminded the stakeholders including sister agencies, traditional rulers, community heads, trade groups and youths that Seme Border plays a pivotal role in regional trade in West Africa. So trade can only florish in an atmosphere of security orderliness.”

He 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 therefore, described too many checkpoints from Seme to badagry as impediment to trade and a major cause of delay for legitimate travellers while urging the agencies present to be compliant to laws and standard operating procedures (SOP) guiding their operations.

The stakeholders include, the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro Olalekan James, Onibereko of Ibereko, Oba Israel Adewale Okoya, Col. SB Yahaya, Defence Attache to Nigeria Embassy in Port Novo who represented the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, police, intelligence, military and paramilitary heads, members of the border community and traders all agreed to work together.

Highlight 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 right and dignity of all travellers and traders operating in Seme.

The meeting also resolved to dismiss unauthorized persons also called you the camp boys at Seme checkpoints, as they were accused of obstruction and harassment of travellers along the corridor.

Adenuga 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.

However, all the stakeholders have agreed to sustain the tempo