Customs: Multiple Checkpoints on Lagos-Badagry Expressway Tarnish Nigeria’s Image

by TheDiggerNews

Badagry (Nigeria): The Controller of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, on Monday said that multiple checkpoints along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway are tarnishing Nigeria’s image.

Adenuga disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ Engagement with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, business partners, customs agents and youth in Seme.

According to Adenuga, with the support of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the service will not rest until the checkpoints are reduced to the bare minimum on the corridor.

“The time wasted along the Lagos Badagry expressway is disturbing. You will see many vehicles queuing for checking by security operatives.

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“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.

Adenuga stated that the engagement was designed to create a frank platform for dialogue among key players in border operations, thereby enhancing trade facilitation and security.

He emphasised the need for collective honesty and cooperation among stakeholders to address the challenges bedevilling 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 fulfilment of the tasks.

Meanwhile, Chief Tunde Giro, the Depegan of Badagry Kingdom, representing the Akran of Badagry, said youths in Badagry had been planning to protest against the excesses of security agencies on the expressway.

Giro said the operatives along the corridor are causing unnecessary delay and extorting citizens, urging the controller to arrest the situation.

Chief 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 Agoro, the actions of the operatives are tarnishing Nigeria’s image and hindering regional commerce.

The community leader said that the majority of the fights and quarrels on the border corridor are caused by camp boys recruited by security agencies along the border route.

Alhaji Yusuf Bashir, the Community Development Committee (CDC) of Badagry-West Local Council Development Area,  urged customs to support the community with infrastructural projects.

Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Mr Olukayode Aluko, was represented by the Defence Attache, Col. S. Yahaya, who assured that the takeaways from the meeting would be fully implemented.
The stakeholders at the meeting include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Army, the Federal Road Safety Corps, traditional rulers, trade associations, freight forwarders, and community leaders.

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