Seme Customs Leads Effort to Tackle Proliferation of Illegal Checkpoints on Lagos–Abidjan Trade Corridor
Kathy Kyari
Concern is mounting over the growing number of illegal security checkpoints along the Lagos–Abidjan ECOWAS trade corridor, as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command, takes the lead in efforts to restore order and promote smoother cross-border trade.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, raised the alarm during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held on Monday, October 6, 2025, in Lagos.
He condemned the proliferation of unauthorized roadblocks, describing them as a “national embarrassment” that stifles legitimate trade and undermines Nigeria’s competitiveness within the ECOWAS region.
Comptroller Adenuga assured stakeholders that the Customs management was “working assiduously to reduce the number of checkpoints” and restore sanity along the critical trade route.
During the session, Comptroller Adenuga exposed how multiple illegal roadblocks have transformed a vital trade artery into a nightmare for cross-border traders, tourists, and transporters.
He lamented that while the Benin Republic operates smoother and more efficient border controls, the Nigerian side has become notorious for extortion, harassment, and corruption driven by unauthorized “camp boys” masquerading as officials.
The Customs chief vowed decisive action, pledging to mobilize security agencies, traditional rulers, and border communities in a united effort to eliminate the illegal checkpoints and restore credibility to Nigeria’s border operations.
He issued a stern warning to security agencies operating outside legal checkpoints to “steer clear from the corridor,” emphasizing that the Customs management has banned the activities of ‘camp boys’ on the highways.
“We are going to work, and we will make Seme corridor road a place of sanity,”
Comptroller Adenuga declared.
He further stressed the importance of transparency and cooperation among all parties, urging honest dialogue to confront the systemic problems affecting the border axis.
“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, has consistently championed – building a legacy of trade facilitation and a conducive environment for economic growth,”
he stated.
Comptroller Adenuga also highlighted disparities between the Nigerian and Beninese border operations, noting that Benin Republic authorities maintain a more coordinated and transparent process for inspecting vehicles suspected of conveying questionable goods.
However, the dialogue grew tense as Hon. Joseph Agoro, a grassroots politician, decried the menace of unofficial camp boys allegedly hired by security operatives. He accused them of terrorizing residents and travelers, calling on Customs to act swiftly to end their activities.
Representing the Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Ambassador Olukayode Olugbenga Aluko, the Defense Attaché, Colonel S. Yahaya, assured participants that all resolutions from the summit would be implemented without delay.
The meeting brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including freight forwarders, traditional rulers, and representatives of the Nigerian Army, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Participants shared operational challenges affecting their agencies within the Badagry–Seme corridor and expressed support for Customs’ reform efforts.
As the Seme Command intensifies its campaign, expectations remain high that the long-troubled Lagos–Abidjan corridor could soon regain its status as a model of efficient trade facilitation and regional cooperation.
0 Comments