The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Seme borders command, have called out all sister security agencies operating along the foremost international route to join hands in dismantling multiple check points that have plagued the roads.
Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, who engaged the agencies’ heads as well as other stakeholders and traditional rulers in the area in a discussion on Monday, said the multiple checkpoints have become “embarrassing and disgraceful” to the image and intergrity of Nigeria.
The stakeholders engagement which held at the conference hall of the Customs Service had the unit heads of the Police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Airforce, the Narcotics, and prominent traditional rulers in the area led by His Royal Highnes Segiro James of Kweme Kingdom, in attendance.
In his opening speech, Comptroller Adenuga said the meeting was part of renewed efforts of the Controller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to enhance trade and ease movement along the Seme-Badagry highway.
He said the order to urgently dismantle the ‘enormous’ checkpoints was in line with an inter agencies agreement between the CGC and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Starting with the the traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders in the area, the Customs Chief urged for an uninhibited frank discuss on what the various participants perceived as consituting avoidable conflicts against smooth operations along the corridor, with a view to profering solutions to them.
Imbued by the apparent frankness of the Comptroller, the royal fathers and community leaders took turns to voice out their observations and misgivings about the security operatives.
Top of such revelations ranged from alleged arogance and disrespect by the security operatives in dealings with the locals, to the use of street orchins commonly called ‘Camp Boys’ in ‘harrasing’ passangers along the borders.
Specifically, a community leader and lawmaker in Lagos state who represented the Gbaji, Kweme communities, Honourable Joseph Adeolu Agoro, lamented that the international highway had turned into a nightmare for traders and tourists, due to the alleged ‘ugly display of of impunity’ by the checkpoints officers.
Responding, Comptroller Adenuga declared that, with the full support of Comptroller-General, “all unauthorized checkpoints will be removed withimmediate effect.
‘Multiple checkpoints are a national embarrassment’, Adenuga stated. ‘We will reduce them drastically. If you have no business on that road, stay off. In all we do, let us fear God’.
To this end, he issued a stern warning to all agencies operating along the corridor, urging them to eliminate unnecessary roadblocks and align with efforts to sanitize the route.
Comptroller Adenuga also announced a ban on the use of ‘camp boys’ non-official personnel manning checkpoints. He emphasized that Customs officers must carry out their duties personally and not delegate responsibilities to untrained individuals.
Responding to calls from local youths for employment opportunities, the Comptroller assured support for legitimate business ventures. However, he clarified that recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service is strictly merit-based and conducted through an open online application process.
On the area of Community Relations, the Customs Controller assured that the stalled school project initiated by Customs would soon resume.
The initiative marks a significant step toward restoring order and fostering economic growth in the Seme-Badagry axis.
Other unit heads present at the meeting included, the Quarantine, Civil Defence, Border Health and representatives of freight forwarders.
