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Seme is a major crossing point for immigrants entering or leaving Nigeria legally and illegally.
Seme Border has been described as the busiest border in West Africa because of its strategic location between two major commercial cities extending to Cotonou, Lome, Accra and other West African countries. The town is also a settlement in Nigeria on the border with the Benin Republic. It is about ten minutes drive from Badagry on the coastal road between Lagos and Cotonou a part of Badagry Division of Lagos State.
Seme border has been described as a weak and very porous border that allows all sorts of cross-border and trans-border criminal activities, such as human trafficking, drug peddling, arms robbery, illicit arms trafficking, smuggling and other criminal activities along with the border towns. In short, if one visits the border, you will see so many business activities, both legal and illegal, including dealers of currencies and cars. Since the route is always busy both in the day and night, it needs a well-coordinated policing to nib criminal activities in the bud.
Though the security operatives have been able to reduce the cases of armed robberies and other criminal activities on the route, in place of this, also make things very difficult for legitimate travellers, especially the police.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Seme Border Comptroller Mohammed Ubah while speaking to Journalist International Forum For Migration i-n his office this week, on the porous nature of the Badagry-Seme Border route disclosed that Trans-border crime or cross border crime as you may call it to represent a number of illegal and notorious activities carried out by individual and group across national and international borders, either for financial-economic benefits or socio-political cum religious considerations. The perpetrators of the nefarious acts which include human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling or trafficking of weapons, cross-border terrorism, illegal oil bunkering, illicit trafficking in diamonds, corruptions, business fraud and other crime being committed at the border. The system of cross border crime has changed rapidly over the years through the use of a technology network. The loosening of travel restrictions through criminal diversification has drastically increased the threat to international peace and security. This is not unconnected with the fact that West Africa is also seeing an increase in terrorism, especially in the Sahel region. Cases include deadly terrorist attacks in Mali and here in Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency through which a lot of deaths have been recorded. Comptroller Mohammed added that the smugglers are deadly and are not to be handled with kid’s gloves. They are known to operate on foot or in the vehicle using secret and illegal routes across borders to bring in contraband goods or to avoid special regulations, levies and taxes. The Nigeria Customs Service has always been cooperating with other security agencies locally and internationally to stop these cross border crimes. It is not an easy task but we will try, he assured. “On my officer’s behaviour on duty, I on my part have engaged the public and the media for useful information on any suspicious activity on them.
My officers know that Seme Command must perform above average in terms of revenue collection, anti-smuggling drive, legitimate trade facilitation and the security of the nation through the effective manning of the international border. They are beginning to absorb the culture of transparency and professionalism while discharging their duties, and that any bad behaviour observed among them along the International border will be taken as an act of sabotage to the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. He further stated that he remembered telling some Customs Licensed agents, that bad eggs using the illegal routes for the business have come to the realization that business for them is not as usual as before, that coming from Badagry to Seme, you will notice much more sign of improvement in reduction of checkpoints on the road; and that the NCS is more committed to intelligence surveillance within our environment. This has added improved result in the arrest of trans-border criminal activities as we have constantly been making seizures arresting and persecuting suspected criminals.
The border communities are not developed, if they are developed, it will reduce crime in the area such as good industries, and good road. Also, education is needed to educate the people, because the communities do not value education. They see it as a waste of time. A small boy of age 10 selling a bag of rice in a day can make much money.
People do not know that some local goods are free in exportation, such as yams and cassava, and only pay 5% in importing spare parts.
The CAC assures members of both local business communities that the command will increase dialogue, and robust stakeholders engagement for seamless operations at the modern Joint Border Post, which is the first of its kind in West Africa sub0region, designed to promote regional integration, reduce clearing time at the border, increase government revenue, improve free movement of persons / goods, eliminate corruption and loss of revenue at the borders.
The CAC thanks on behalf of the Officers and men of Seme Area Command, to the Comptroller General of Customs CGC, Hameed Ibrahim Ali and his management team for their relentless support and encouragement for the Command.
JIFORM PRESIDENT, MR. AJIBOLA ABAYOMI, SECRETARY MR. KELVIN KAGBARE AND MEMBERS VISIT TO COMPTROLLER GARBA UBAH AND HIS TEAM IN SEME BORDER.
