At any information relating to bileteral discussion on trade facilitation between Benin Republic and Nigeria, the critical stakeholders at Seme Border are always excited. Yes, they have every reason to be excited. It could be realised that eight months past the feelings of these critical stakeholders, the importers through the West Coast and their Freight forwarders at Seme-Krake were aroused over the rumour that President Bola Tinubu might soon reopen the Seme land border fully for importation of vehicles and movement of other goods and services including rice, in order to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians due to years of border partial closure.The
coming of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR has shown some lights at the end of the tunnel. Speaking during his maiden working visit to the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and Seme-Krake Border communities as soon as he was appointed in 2023, the Customs CG noted that national security is one of the major reason for the last administration to partially close the border.He said that the borders were closed for security purposes but not all of them were reopened. He assured that they have already started discussions along this line. Policies that are aimed at enhancing national security are supposed to be dynamic policies, at different times they would be reviewing them, he said.Speaking at a meeting with the business community, CGC Adeniyi also said that reopening of the borders fully, depends on the readiness of the local communities to corporate with the customs and other law enforcement agents in combating insecurity and smuggling.According to him, the security agencies need intelligence from the
communities on the nefarious activities of smugglers, and to properly protect the border areas against illicit importations.“It is going to be a symbiotic relationship that would be beneficial to all of us. By the time this is done, we can now start discussing about allowing vehicles to come in through the borders. We can now start considering allowing food to also come in through the borders if we cannot have enough capacity to feed ourselves.“These are conversations that would happen within us when we have gotten assurances from the communities that they would be ready to assist the agencies in doing their job,” the CGC said.In a recent development according to a report reaching this media from the Customs National Public Relations Officer, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, the continued efforts to get cross-border trade formalized by this regime of CGC Adeniyi MFR is highly commended. In an effort to strengthen the longstanding partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and its counterpart in the Republic of Benin, a high-powered delegation led by the CGC, embarked on a crucial mission to meet with the Director-General of the Customs Administration of Benin Republic on Thursday, 11 April, 2024. The primary focus of the meeting, as outlined by the CGC, was to deliberate on strategies aimed at amplifying trade activities between the two nations and ensuring the seamless implementation of recommendations previously discussed during their rendezvous in Cotonou. Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, the CGC underscored, "We are cognisant of the established framework for cooperation between our respective customs administrations. This framework was established at a higher level by the authorities of the heads of State, President Patrice Talon of Benin and His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, both expressing a desire to work together. It is upon this foundation that the customs of both countries are united in their efforts."
Welcoming the delegation with open arms, Mrs Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, the Director-General of Benin Customs Administration, reiterated their steadfast commitment to executing the mutually agreed-upon measures, emphasising the importance of thorough monitoring to ensure effective implementation. The collaborative endeavours between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Republic Customs Administration, according to her, serve as a testament to their shared commitment to facilitating seamless trade operations and ensuring the efficient management of cross-border activities for the mutual benefit of both nations. “In the meantime, during the visit, the CGC seized the opportunity to inspect ongoing projects within the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command. Accompanied by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the CGC meticulously assessed the progress of the projects and received assurances of diligent oversight from the responsible authorities”, Maiwada stated.
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