In a bold move to enhance trade and ease movement along the Seme corridor, the Nigeria Customs Service said it is committed to reducing the number of checkpoints on the Seme-Badagry highway to a minimum.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement in Seme on Monday, Comptroller Wale Adenuga of the Seme Area Command declared that, with the full support of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, all unauthorized checkpoints will be removed.
“Multiple checkpoints are a national embarrassment,” Adenuga stated. “We will reduce them drastically. If you have no business on that road, stay off. In all we do, let us fear God.”
He issued a stern warning to all agencies operating along the corridor, urging them to eliminate unnecessary roadblocks and align with efforts to sanitize the route.
Adenuga also announced a ban on the use of “camp boys” — non-official personnel manning checkpoints. He emphasized that Customs officers must carry out their duties personally and not delegate responsibilities to untrained individuals.
Responding to calls from local youths for employment opportunities, the Comptroller assured support for legitimate business ventures. However, he clarified that recruitment into the Nigeria Customs Service is strictly merit-based and conducted through an open online application process.
On the stalled school project initiated by Customs, Adenuga confirmed that work would soon resume. He revealed that he had formally written to the Comptroller-General to expedite the development and called for cooperation from the border community.
The initiative marks a significant step toward restoring order and fostering economic growth in the Seme-Badagry axis.