Customs streamlines operations at Idiroko border, cuts down on checkpoints

The Nigeria Customs Service said it has reduced the number of checkpoints along the Idiroko border road in Ogun State.

According to reports, the road is the main route linking Sango, Owode and Idiroko to the neighbouring Benin Republic. And commuters have been complaining about the excessive number of both legal and illegal checkpoints along the corridor, even as they lament the level of extortion by various security agencies, especially from Ajilete to Ajegunle.

But, the Controller of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the NCS, Bamidele Makinde, said the number of checkpoints on the road has been pruned down for the essence of trade facilitation.

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Makinde, at a press conference in Abeokuta, said he liaised with other security agents to ensure the number of security barricades along Idiroko border is reduced to its bare minimum.

According to him, documentation has also been fast-tracked to avoid unnecessary delays in obtaining documents.

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Makinde disclosed that the transportation of goods along the route has become easier, with no disturbance from security agents.

“We have reduced the number of checkpoints along Idiroko road. That is part of trade facilitation. We have had numerous checkpoints before, and there will still be; but the real business people, once they (security agents) see their trucks and documents, they don’t disturb them.

“We have taken this step alongside the Commissioner of Police, the Director of DSS to reduce the number of checkpoints considerably. If you come to Idiroko for genuine and legitimate business, no one will disturb you,” the customs boss said.