The Joint Border Post Security Management Team operating along the Seme-Krake border route has resolved to eliminate multiple checkpoints along the corridor.
In a meeting held on Wednesday at the ECOWAS building by the Heads of security agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Army amongst others.
The team resolved to eliminate the multiplicity of checkpoints along the corridor as well as improve the conduct of personnel deployed to effectively optimize their presence to the benefit of the Country.
Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command and Chairman of the Joint Border Post Security Management Team, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, explained that security should not be hundred percent physical.
According to him, “Security these days shouldn’t be just physical, there should be patrol basis because we all have vehicles and we can communicate. We don’t have to create one million checkpoints on the roads to stop smuggling. We are being proactive and innovative.”
“Customs has set the example by collapsing most of its checkpoints and the other agencies have agreed to do same”.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, Comptroller Nnadi noted that it will remove the pressure on Officers engaging with smugglers.
“If fuel is being deregulated, it is expected that the cost of fuel in Nigeria and across the border is going to be almost at par, and what it means is that the incentives for smuggling will be removed and it will also remove pressure on officers to be engaging with these smugglers, so it is a welcome development for us”. He said.
He hinted that the meeting was earlier scheduled to address the impact of the fuel subsidy removal amidst the alleged strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), considering its effects on the trade corridor.
He appreciated the Federal Government for the quick intervention and also for the speed at which the road to the border is being repaired.
“We had anticipated that the threat of labour to embark on a strike would have taken place. We gathered as a proactive measure to see how we can help respond to such development, but luckily, it was called off by Labour, courtesy of the intervention by the Federal Government”. He explained.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government for the speed at which they are repairing the road, even during rainy season, the road is still being repaired”, he added.
However, we also recognize that the impact of the bad portions of the road is affecting trade and commuters, so we discussed how we can leverage on the advantage of the road being repaired to also talk with the communities to be patient with us”, he noted.
