Security agencies and community stakeholders along the Seme Border–ECOWAS corridor are at odds over the rising number of roadblocks. This is even as the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has defended the presence of multiple police checkpoints along the ECOWAS corridor, describing it as a necessary measure to ensure safety and maintain internal security.
However, community leaders have expressed frustration over the persistence of multiple checkpoints and their negative impact on the lives and economy of border communities.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting held last week at the Seme-Krake Border, a member of the Community Development Committee of Badagry West LCDA, Alhaji Yusuf Bashir Mohammed, lamented that despite several stakeholders’ meetings, no concrete solution has been reached to address the issues of multiple checkpoints, extortion, and harassment on the ever-busy international corridor.
Alhaji Mohammed revealed that residents have suffered infrastructural decay and harassment despite the heavy security presence. He warned that if the situation persists, it could lead to unrest among youths in the area.
The Community leader further described the extent of the problem along the route, particularly around Oloko, where he said multiple police teams mount checkpoints close to each other, often collecting money from commercial drivers.
“At Oloko, you will see about three to four police checkpoints at the same spot, checking vehicles and collecting money from each commercial driver that drives across those checkpoints. You find them even more at night — sometimes three in one location. This is killing our businesses and scaring away tourists.
Lamenting years of inactivity, he said, “every of our meetings is a repetition of the same issues — multiple checkpoints, camp boys, and so on. The communities have now mandated me that we are coming out to protest against multiple checkpoints.
“For the past seven years, we have not had light. Our electricity facilities are being vandalised and carted away despite the multiple checkpoints. There is also female harassment by some military officers at the checkpoints. Suntan Beach is losing patronage due to immigration extortion, and many of them deliberately don’t wear their name tags,” Muhammed added.
Responding, the Commander of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB), Lagos Mainland/Badagry Unit, Superintendent of Police Musa Noleda, said the visible presence of police along the route reflects their constitutional mandate as the nation’s foremost internal security agency.
Noleda explained that officers stationed along the corridor are drawn from different specialized units within the force, including the IGP Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit, and the Border Patrol Unit.
He, however, condemned reports of extortion by some officers, maintaining that such practices are not part of the force’s mandate. SP Noleda added that the multiplicity of police checkpoints should not be misconstrued as a disruption to trade activities, but rather as a proactive measure to safeguard lives, property, and border communities along the strategic ECOWAS trade route.
“The only thing I would dispute is when officers are extorting money. That is not our mandate; that is not what we are sent for,” SP Noleda emphasized.
In his remarks, the newly deployed Customs Area Controller of the Seme Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Adewale Adenuga, speaking on behalf of the Service, stated that the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) has directed that all Customs checkpoints be reduced to the barest minimum.
He disclosed that only two checkpoints — Gbaji and Agbara — are officially approved along the Seme corridor, adding that other officers seen along the route are only on patrol duties to provide monitoring and reinforcement when necessary.
Comptroller Adenuga further urged the media and other stakeholders to report any illegal checkpoints mounted by unscrupulous elements along the corridor to ensure accountability and promote seamless trade facilitation.
“The CGC has mandated that all Customs checkpoints should be reduced to the barest minimum. The only approved checkpoints are at Gbaji and Agbara. Any other officers you see on the access road are simply on patrol, not permanent checkpoints”, he said.
On his part, Capt H.I Medugu from the Nigerian Airforce base in Badagry noted that they have installed CCTV at the checkpoints manned by its officers to monitor their activities. He assured that this would further enhance professionalism of the officers at their bases.
“We need to queue into the dream of President Tinubu in driving revenue. At the border, we must all play our own role to improve operations and make trade very seamless” he advised.
