Nigeria Customs Moves to End Multiple Checkpoints on Lagos–Badagry Expressway, Says Practice Damaging National Image
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has vowed to eliminate the proliferation of multiple security checkpoints along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, describing the situation as embarrassing, counterproductive, and tarnishing Nigeria’s image before international travelers and investors.
Speaking during a Stakeholders’ Engagement in Seme on Monday, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, Controller of the NCS Seme Area Command, said the agency—under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi—is determined to restore order and credibility to the vital trade corridor.
“Enough Is Enough”: Customs Chief Laments Corruption, Delays
Comptroller Adenuga, visibly frustrated by the excessive checkpoints mounted by multiple security agencies, said the current situation has caused significant delays for motorists, traders, and logistics operators.
“It is embarrassing to see as many as 10 Immigration checkpoints, 20 Police checkpoints, and 15 Customs points along a single expressway—all doing the same job,” Adenuga declared.
“Enough is enough. We must have the fear of God in our hearts. I will not rest until these checkpoints are reduced to the barest minimum.”
He said the Lagos–Badagry route, which connects Nigeria to the Benin Republic and serves as a strategic trade link for the ECOWAS subregion, has become a symbol of inefficiency and abuse due to overlapping enforcement points.
Stakeholders Call for Reform and Accountability
The engagement brought together security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, transporters, freight forwarders, and youth representatives, all united by frustration over harassment, extortion, and delays along the corridor.
Community leaders, including Chief Tunde Giro, the Depegan of Badagry Kingdom (representing the Akran of Badagry), warned that youths were planning a mass protest against the excesses of uniformed personnel operating along the expressway.
“Our people are angry,” Giro said. “Security operatives delay movement, extort citizens, and create unnecessary bottlenecks. The time for action is now.”
Chief Joseph Agoro, a respected leader from Apa community, decried the persistence of unwholesome practices and called for unified collaboration among the NCS, Immigration, NDLEA, FRSC, and other agencies to sanitise the route.
“These practices are tarnishing Nigeria’s image and discouraging regional commerce,” Agoro warned. “We must act before things deteriorate further.”
Military, Diplomats, and Customs Unite for Change
Representatives of other security formations—including the Nigerian Air Force, NDLEA, Immigration, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)—pledged their cooperation with the NCS to address the issue.
Group Captain M. Medugu, Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Air Force Forward Operations Base, Ahanve-Badagry, assured that the military would support Customs’ reform drive in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration to end the embarrassing situation caused by the excessive number of Lagos Badagry Expressway checkpoints.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Olukayode Aluko, represented by Col. S. Yahaya, praised the initiative and assured that all resolutions from the meeting would be implemented to strengthen bilateral trade relations.
Restoring Nigeria’s Image and Trade Efficiency
Customs Comptroller Adenuga stressed that the Lagos–Seme trade route is vital to Nigeria’s non-oil export drive, ECOWAS trade integration, and cross-border economic stability.
“The more we facilitate legitimate trade, the better for our country. When trade thrives, crime reduces,” he said.
He urged all enforcement agencies to prioritise intelligence-led operations over indiscriminate checkpoints, warning that indiscipline and duplication of roles undermine Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business agenda.
BRANDECONOMY ANALYSIS: A Test of Governance and Trade Reform
The Lagos–Badagry Expressway is not just a transport route; it is a litmus test of Nigeria’s trade governance. For decades, overlapping agencies and uncoordinated checkpoints have been cited by ECOWAS as a major barrier to regional trade competitiveness.
Adenuga’s bold stance signals a shift towards reform, transparency, and accountability—principles that align with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to streamline border operations and strengthen economic diplomacy.
However, success will depend on political will, inter-agency discipline, and public oversight. Reducing checkpoints without ensuring security coordination could be equally damaging if not carefully implemented.
BRANDECONOMY TAKEAWAY
The Nigeria Customs Service’s pledge to clean up the Lagos–Badagry corridor represents more than an administrative move—it is a reputation recovery exercise for Nigeria’s trade system.
If implemented effectively, this reform could:
✅ Reduce transport costs and transit delays
✅ Enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness within ECOWAS
✅ Improve investor confidence and tourism appeal
✅ Restore national dignity on one of West Africa’s busiest trade routes
The world is watching—Nigeria must show that trade facilitation and law enforcement can coexist with integrity.
