Nigeria, Benin Customs Deepen Cross-Border Cooperation to Boost Trade and Tackle Bottlenecks at Seme-Krake
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing trade facilitation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin through sustained stakeholder engagement and joint border management initiatives.
This resolve was demonstrated during a joint border management stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday between officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, their Beninese counterparts, other security agencies, and members of the business community from both countries.
Speaking at the meeting, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, described the Seme-Krake border as a critical trade corridor within the West African sub-region and a vital link for intra-African commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
According to him, the engagement followed the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to identify and eliminate all barriers impeding the free flow of trade in accordance with existing laws and ECOWAS protocols on the movement of goods and persons.
“The border holds great economic potential that can benefit citizens and traders from both countries, which share deep historical, cultural, and trade ties dating back to the pre-independence era,” Adenuga said.
Highlighting some key outcomes of the meeting, the Customs chief warned that any officer or non-government actor found frustrating the legitimate movement of goods and persons would be arrested and prosecuted. He further urged travelers and traders to report any grievances directly to his office or through the Public Relations Officer for immediate redress.
Adenuga also announced that truck examinations will henceforth be conducted only at the designated examination bay, a move aimed at streamlining import processes and ensuring transparency in border operations.
He emphasized that the border environment is a transit area, not a parking or storage zone, stressing the need to maintain order and prevent congestion.
In his remarks, the Head of Benin Customs at the Krake border and Co-Chair of the Joint Border Post (JBP), Lt. Col. Arnaud Midgrokan, commended Comptroller Adenuga for convening the meeting and expressed optimism that such engagements would foster practical solutions to shared challenges.
He pledged continued cooperation with his Nigerian counterpart to promote lawful trade, uphold integrity, and sustain mutual agreements between both nations.
The meeting, the second since Comptroller Adenuga assumed office, was attended by representatives of the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Benin Republic, top security officials, and cross-border traders.
Participants also discussed the need to address issues such as the timely removal of truck trackers, reduction of unnecessary checkpoints, anti-corruption measures, and continuous dialogue for improved trade efficiency.
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