The controller, Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adenuga, on Monday, said that multiple checkpoints along Lagos Badagry expressway are tarnishing Nigeria’s image.
Mr Adenuga disclosed this at a stakeholders engagement with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, business partners, customs agents and youth in Seme.
According to Mr Adenuga, with support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the service will not rest until the checkpoints are reduced to the barest minimum on the corridor.
“The time wasted along Lagos Badagry expressway is disturbing. You will see many vehicles queuing for checking by security operatives.
“It is embarrassing to see as many as 10 immigration checkpoints, 20 police checkpoints and 15 customs points doing the same work along the expressway.
“Enough is enough, we should have the fear of God in our hearts. I will not rest until I achieve this,” he said.
Mr Adenuga said the engagement was designed to create a frank platform for dialogue among key players in border operations, with the goal of enhancing trade facilitation and security.
He emphasised the need for collective honesty and cooperation among stakeholders to address the challenges bedeviling the border axis.
“We need to tell ourselves the bitter truth. The more we facilitate legitimate trade, the better for our country. When trade thrives, crime reduces,” he said.
Group Capt. M. Medugu, Nigeria Air Force Forward Operations Base at Ahanve, Badagry, speaking on behalf of military formations in the area, assured the controller that the military would support customs in fulfillment of the tasks.
Meanwhile, Tunde Giro, the Depegan of Badagry kingdom, representing Akran of Badagry, said youths in Badagry had been planning to protest excesses of security agencies on the expressway.
Mr Giro said the operatives along the corridor are causing unnecessary delay and extorting citizens, urging the controller to arrest the situation.
Joseph Agoro, a community leader in Apa, Badagry, decried the persistence of unwholesome practices along the Seme route and urged security agencies and border communities to unite in tackling the issue.
According to Mr Agoro, actions of the operatives are tarnishing Nigeria’s image and hindering regional commerce.
The community leader said that the majority of the fight and quarrels on the border corridor is caused by camp boys recruited by security agencies along the border route.
Yusuf Bashir, the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, Badagry-West Local Council Development Area, urged customs to support the community with infrastructural projects.
Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Olukayode Aluko, represented by the Defense Attache, Col. S. Yahaya, assured that the takeaways from the meeting would be fully implemented.
Stakeholders at the meeting were the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Army, Federal Roads Safety Corps, traditional rulers, trade associations, freight forwarders, and community leaders.
(NAN)