By Innocent Orok
The past few weeks have been a busy time for government officials, business stakeholders and communities on both the Benin Republic and Nigeria side across the Badagry – Seme Border , popularly known as Lagos -Abinjan route. The engagements were at the instance of Comptroller Wale Adenuga, the recently deployed Customs Area Controller ( CAC) Seme /Krake border post.
Worried by what he meet on ground and how to facilitate legitimate trade /national security, operate a friendly and all inclusive working environment, Comptroller Wale Adenuga organised a series of stakeholders engagements to hear everybody out, both from Benin Republic and Nigeria, their complains, challenges, and way forward. Especially on legitimate trade facilitation and peaceful operating environment at the border post.
Before he summoned the meeting, information has it that the Seme Border has become tense with fears of protests and open violence confrontations by youths of the border communities with government security officials over extortion, intimidation and molestation while carrying out their activities in and around the border.
On getting the complains, Comptroller Wale Adenuga with the approval of CGC Adewale Adeniyi MFR, proactively convene the stakeholders meeting.
DAY 1: COMPTROLLER ADENUGA MOBILISES SEME BORDER STAKEHOLDERS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, TRADE FACILITATION MEETING
On Monday, 6 October 2025 Comptroller Wale Adenuga hosted the first stakeholders meeting to enhance national security and facilitate legitimate trade along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, with majorly Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, sister security agencies businessmen/ women, Community leaders, youths and all stakeholders within Nigeria, Badagry and adjourning communities .
Adenuga said the meeting which was aimed at making the Seme transit corridor effective and secure following the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and promoting cooperation among security agencies while respecting the rights and dignity of border community dwellers.
“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 MFR, has consistently championed, building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic growth.”
He reminded stakeholders including sister security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, trade groups and youths that Seme Border plays a pivotal role in regional trade in West Africa, said trade can only flourish in an atmosphere of security and orderliness.
He also 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.
Adenuga described too many checkpoints from Seme to Badagry as impediments to trade and and a major cause of delay for legitimate travelers while urging all agencies present to be compliant to laws and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) guiding their operations.
The stakeholders, including the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro Olalekan James;
Onibereko of Ibereko, Oba Israel Adewale Okoya; Col. S.B.Yahaya, Defence Atrachee to Nigeria Embassy in Port Novo who represented the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic; police, intelligence,military and paramilitary heads; members of the border communities and traders all agreed to work together.
Highpoint 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 rights and dignity of all travelers and traders operating in Seme.
The meeting also resolved to dismiss unauthorized persons also called camp boys at some checkpoints as they were accused of causing obstruction and harassment of travelers along the corridor.
Comptroller 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.
DAY 2: SEME CUSTOMS HOLDS JOINT BORDER STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH BENINESE COUNTERPART TO PROMOTE TRADE FACILITATION, CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP
On Tuesday 7th October, 2025, the second leg of the stakeholders meeting continued, this time with both officials of Benin Republic Customs , Nigerians in diaspora ( Benin ), other security agencies and representatives of business community from both countries.
Addressing participants at the meeting, Comptroller Adenuga said the Seme-Krake border which is strategic to trade in the West African sub region also plays a critical role in intra African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said the meeting is in pursuant of a mandate given by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR that all identified impediments to free flow of trade are eradicated in line with the extant laws and ECOWAS protocols of free movement of goods and persons.
Adenuga said the border holds great economic potential to be beneficial to citizens and traders from the two countries that have historical, cultural and trade relationships dating from the pre-independence era of both West African countries.
After a tense , but cordially deliberations , blame game, accusations and and solution findings, Comptroller Adenuga quickly made the following quick interventions.
QUICK SOLUTIONS / INTERVENTIONS
• Listing some of the quick takes from the meeting, Comptroller Adenuga highlighted that any officer or non government official caught frustrating free movement of persons and goods that have met all formal conditions shall be arrested and prosecuted.
• Drastic reduction of check points along the Seme Border,- Lagos corridor.
• He urged all travelers and traders to bring their complainants to him directly or call the PRO for immediate and prompt action.
•Trucks examination shall be conducted at the designated examination bay to streamline the process of importation into Nigeria from the neighbouring country.
• The border is a transit area should not be made a parking zone or storage point to avoid congestion.
• Compt. Adenuga promised cooperation and regular collaboration with his Nigerian counterpart to promote lawful commercial activities and continually ensure zero compromise to the joint agreements of both countries.
• On complains about extortion, harassment and illegal crossing allegedly by Nigerian Immigration Officers at the border. Comptroller Adenuga promised to liaised with his counterpart to resolve those issues.
The Head of Benin Customs at the Krake border, Lt. Col Arnaud Midgrokan, who also doubles as Co-Chair of the JBP, appreciated Comptroller Adenuga for the meeting and expressed optimism that the engagement will open avenues to solutions for all identified challenges.
The meeting, which was the second in a series of strategic engagements under the new controller, was attended by representative of the Chargè d’affaires of the Nigeria Embassy to Benin republic, top security chiefs, business men and women from both countries, also promised to look into issues like timely removal of truck trackers for quicker movement, reduce unnecessary checkpoints, prevent corruption and continually promote dialogue as a means to effective trade.
APPEAL FOR COOPERATION
With a patriotic Zeal and ready to carryout the mandate of his boss CGC Wale Adeniyi, for nation building and economic growth, between both countries. Comptroller Wale Adenuga as a man on a mission, appealed to all stakeholders, including the media , which he holds with high regards to cooperate with him to make Nigeria’s besists border a new haven for facilitation of legitimate trade, legal movement of goods and persons. Which will in turn increase the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of both countries .
