The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a two-day stakeholders’ summit at the Seme Border to address border-related crimes and improve legitimate trade.
Comptroller Wale Adenuga, Controller of Seme Area Command, emphasized the need for collective honesty and cooperation among stakeholders to tackle challenges affecting the border axis.
Key Objectives of the Summit
Enhance Trade Facilitation*: Promote safer, smarter, and more efficient cross-border trade
Improve Security*: Address border-related crimes and irregularities
Foster Collaboration*: Encourage inter-agency collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders
Stakeholders’ Concerns
Multiple Checkpoints*: Residents and villagers complain about harassment from unauthorized personnel, particularly “camp boys” recruited by security agencies
Irregularities on the Nigerian Side*: Comptroller Adenuga highlighted the seamless process for intervening in suspected vehicles on the Benin Republic axis, contrasting with irregularities on the Nigerian side
Expected Outcomes
Joint Framework*: Adoption of a joint framework to promote safer and more efficient cross-border trade
Implementation of Takeaways*: The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic assured that the summit’s recommendations will be fully implemented
The summit brings together representatives from security agencies, traditional rulers, trade associations, and community leaders to find lasting solutions to border-related challenges and improve legitimate trade along the Seme border corridor.
