Multiple Checkpoints Crippling Nigeria’s Trade Corridors — Seme Customs Chief Warns
Nigeria’s fragile cross-border trade ecosystem is once again under scrutiny as the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) raises alarm over the proliferation of checkpoints along the Lagos–Badagry–Seme trade corridor, one of West Africa’s most strategic commercial arteries.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, the Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, described the excessive checkpoints operated by multiple security agencies as “a major obstacle to seamless trade facilitation and regional competitiveness.”
“We have far too many checkpoints along the Badagry axis — most of which should not exist in the first place,” Adenuga said.
“This development is not only embarrassing but also detrimental to our national economic interests. It discourages genuine business transactions and increases logistics costs along Nigeria’s busiest border route.”
Trade Chokepoints Threatening ECOWAS Corridor Efficiency
The Lagos–Seme corridor, which links Nigeria to the Benin Republic and serves as a vital gateway for ECOWAS intra-regional trade, has long been identified by international development agencies as a high-cost trade route due to overlapping enforcement agencies and multiple extortion border checkpoints.
While only two official Customs checkpoints—at Gbaji and Agbara—are recognised under operational regulations, Adenuga noted that several unauthorised barriers continue to emerge, undermining the spirit of trade facilitation promoted by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Economists warn that each illegal checkpoint adds to supply chain delays, increased freight costs, and price distortions — ultimately discouraging exporters and investors from routing their goods through Nigeria’s borders.
Seme Command’s Push for Efficiency and Economic Expansion
Despite these challenges, Comptroller Adenuga reaffirmed that the Seme Command remains committed to enhancing revenue collection, tightening anti-smuggling operations, and promoting legitimate trade flows.
He revealed that the Command generated approximately ₦1.5 billion in revenue in the previous month — a 182% increase — and is on track to reach ₦2 billion by the end of October.
“Our objective is to make trade faster, cleaner, and more predictable,” Adenuga said. “But we need a coordinated effort among security agencies and policymakers to align with international standards of trade facilitation.”
He further noted that Badagry, beyond being a border town, holds vast potential for tourism and heritage-driven economic expansion, urging government stakeholders to balance security with economic vibrancy.
Media Backs Call for Policy Reforms
Responding to the Customs Controller, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, Chairman of the NUJ Lagos Council, commended the Seme Command for its professionalism and transparency, describing the visit as a “homecoming for truth and progress.”
“We observed first-hand the numerous checkpoints along the corridor,” Ajayi said. “This situation requires urgent policy intervention to restore confidence among traders and investors.”
Ajayi praised the Command’s dedication to border security, smuggling prevention, and revenue optimisation, noting that their approach aligns with global best practices for customs administration.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of the Seme Border, describing it as Nigeria’s most active land gateway, handling significant volumes of goods, passengers, and commercial exchanges within the ECOWAS region.
A Call for Policy Coherence and Border Reform
Trade experts and stakeholders have repeatedly urged the federal government to implement a single-agency inspection model to streamline cross-border operations, harmonise data collection, and eliminate overlapping jurisdictions.
Such reforms, they argue, would not only enhance Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business index but also position the country as a logistics hub for West Africa under the AfCFTA regime.
“A business corridor can’t thrive when traders face a roadblock and border checkpoints every few kilometres,” one logistics analyst told BRANDECONOMY. “Policy coherence — not proliferation of enforcement — is what drives competitiveness.”
