By Stella Okocha
Harboursandportcom: Lagos-October 6, 2025:The Controller of Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, have conveyed a two-day stakeholders’ meeting , with the intention of finding lasting solutions to most border-related crimes and also improve legitimate trade along the Seme border corridor.
The meeting, which commenced on Monday, 6th of October at the conference hall, ECOWAS Complex, Joint Border Post, Seme Border, had in attendance representatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Nigerian Army, Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC, traditional rulers, and trade associations, including freight forwarders and community leaders.
While delivering his opening remarks, Comptroller Adenuga said the summit was designed to create a critical platform for dialogue among key players in border operations, with the sole aim of enhancing trade facilitation and security; emphasizing the need for collective honesty and cooperation among stakeholders to address the challenges affecting the border axis.
“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, has consistently championed – building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic growth.”
Adenuga also expressed great displeasure towards the persistence of unwholesome practices and multiple checkpoints along the Seme border corridor calling on security agencies and border communities to unite in tackling issues that could tarnish Nigeria’s image and hinder revenue and economic growth.
“The checkpoints we have on the roads are too much, it is disgraceful. The CGC has directed that the checkpoints be reduced and on no account should anyone delay a legitimate business. After this meeting, it will not be business as usual. We will create an implementation committee on all that we have discussed.
The Comptroller General of Customs is now the number one customs officer in the world and Nigeria cannot be different from what is obtainable in other part of the world", he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the communities around the border,, one of the elder statesman and community leader, Hon. Joseph Adeoluwayemi Agoro, pointed that majority of the fight and conflicts on the border corridor is caused by camp boys recruited by security agencies along the border route; describing how commuters and residents are often harassed and questioned by individuals who are not legitimate officers.
"This practice is an embarrassment, multiple checkpoints is already problematic. It is more embarrassing to be stopped by Customs and other security agencies, especially the Police, and someone who isn’t an officer would begin questioning passengers. We don’t know who is attending to us. There is no way the residents and villagers wouldn’t complain with such unfair treatments from camp boys. Why should we be harassed just for living along the border corridor?
"We are not asking you not to do your job, but do it with Courtesy because respect is reciprocal. The Federal government employed Custom officers, while the officers employed their own officers they call Camp boys or Kelebe. While officers are inside enjoying themselves, the camp boys are outside doing whatever they like and can naltreate or talk to you anyhow they like. Most of the fights that happens here are caused by the camp boys", Hon Joseph explained.
Yusuf Bashir Mohammed, who is the Chairman, Community Development Committee of Badagry West LCDA, also told pointed that the stakeholders meeting have been more of talks and no actions, since the meeting is more of repetition of the previous meetings they have had, and yet no result.
"This meeting is a repetition of the same issues. The communities have mandated me to say that we coming out to protest against multiple Checkpoints, because for the past seven years, we have had light because our electricity is be vandalized and carted away, despite the multiple Checkpoints.
" There's is female harassment by the military Officers at the checkpoints, the Suntan Beach is loosing patronage due to immigration officers extortion, and many of these officers don't wear tags. If the pressure gets too much, we will not be able to control our youths, and we don't want the security in Badagry to collapse", Mohammed said.
He rounded up by appealing to NCS to extend their Cooperate Social Responsibility, CSR, to the youth and people of the community, especially in job creation, to avoid them been idle.
The Oba of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Oba Sejiro Ogungbe, who also spoke at the event, expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Customs for reducing frequent clashes between Customs and smugglers in their communities, which he said, often leads to avoidable deaths.
He also appeals that when they see their people with small items that is meant for consumption, they should not seize it, sighting an example like a half bag of rice.
While responding, to the complains, Controller Adenuga, assured the community heads that the issue of multiple checkpoints would be reduced in no distance time; and that CGC is working closely with the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to address the issue.
He also gave a note of warning to other security agencies, saying, “If you don’t have any business to do on that road, don’t come there. If you refuse to comply, you would be arrested because I have the backing of the Comptroller General. ”
On the use of camp boys, Adenuga warned that any officer who make use of camp boys will be dealt with appropriately as the Service has since abolish the use of camp boys.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Ambassador Olukayode Olugbenga Aluko (represented by the Defense Attache, Colonel S. Yahaya), assured that all the points highlighted at the meeting would be fully implemented
H.I Medugu, a representative of the Nigerian Air Force, Badagry, also thanked Comptroller Adenuga for initiating the stakeholders meeting due to several complaints along the border route, stating that there's no better time to talk about these issues like now.
Responding to the complains, he assumed everyone present, that he further enhance the professionalism of the officers at their base. "I have Installed CCTV at the post manned by my officers".
He also said that the issue of human trafficking is on the rise at the border post, and there's no way they can identify the girls without interacting with them.
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