The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has launched a renewed push to eliminate trade barriers along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, leveraging high-level stakeholder engagement to unlock smoother cross-border commerce.
This strategic shift underscores a broader commitment to trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations, aligning with the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda and regional integration goals.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this during a series of familiarisation visits to traditional institutions and sister security agencies across the Badagry axis.
The engagements, according to the Command, are designed to strengthen trust, deepen intelligence sharing and build a coordinated framework for seamless movement of legitimate goods and services.
At the Palace of the Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, the Controller paid condolences to the royal family over the passing of the revered monarch, His Royal Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I, whose influence spanned border communities.
He used the occasion to seek royal support, stressing that Customs operations thrive on community cooperation and local legitimacy in border environments.
Kaila reaffirmed that the Command’s priorities remain anchored on revenue optimisation, trade facilitation and the suppression of smuggling activities that undermine the national economy.
Responding, the King Regent, Chief Abel Ogunbiyi, assured the Command of continued support, describing Badagry as a peaceful enclave committed to lawful trade and security cooperation.
The Controller extended his outreach to the Onibereko of Ibereko Awori Kingdom, Oba Israel Okoya, who pledged to mobilise community backing and sustain dialogue with local residents to discourage illicit activities.
Similarly, at the Palace of the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Ajose Ilufemiloye commended the Controller’s professional pedigree and assured unwavering support in maintaining peace across the border communities.
The traditional rulers collectively emphasised the role of youth engagement and community leadership in preventing smuggling and reinforcing lawful economic activity.
In a parallel move to consolidate inter-agency synergy, the Controller visited the 653 Nigerian Air Force Base in Ahanve, where operational collaboration was reaffirmed.
The Commanding Officer, Group Captain Hungruy Medugu, noted that sustained cooperation between the Air Force and Customs has been instrumental to security gains within the corridor.
He added that the renewed engagement would further strengthen operational coordination and enhance enforcement outcomes.
The familiarisation tour culminated in a diplomatic outreach to the Republic of Benin Police, signalling a cross-border commitment to dismantling bottlenecks and fostering a more efficient regional trade ecosystem.