Comptroller Adenuga Engages Stakeholders, Resolves to Reduce Checkpoints Along Seme-Lagos Corridor
In a bid to reduce checkpoints along the roads leading in and out of the Seme border to facilitate trade ,encourage investment and promote the tourism potentials in the area, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga has commenced a series of stakeholders engagements.
According to a press release issued by the Command Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman , on 6th October 2025, while engaging stakeholders including sister security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, trade groups and youths, the CAC stated that Seme Border plays a pivotal role in regional trade in West Africa .He added that trade can only flourish in an atmosphere of security and orderliness.
He 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.
Comptroller Adenuga said the meeting which is aimed at making the Seme transit corridor effective and secure is following the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and promoting cooperation among security agencies while respecting the rights and dignity of border community dwellers.
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.
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.
A resolution to reduce checkpoints along the roads leading in and out of the Seme border was made. 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 harrasment of travelers along the corridor.
The Area Controller 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.
The heads of all the security agencies, the traditional rulers and other stakeholders present agreed to sustain the tempo of the meeting.
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