The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to seamless business activities and renewed fight against smuggling along the Idiroko-Igolo border corridor.

Godwin Otunla, the area comptroller, made this known in a statement issued by the command’s public relations officer, Chado Zakari, in Idiroko on Saturday.

The statement said Mr Otunla recently hosted a high-level stakeholders engagement session focused on enhancing trade facilitation along Idiroko-Igolo border corridor.

“There is a need for synergy among importers, exporters and clearing agents to boost business activities,” Mr Otunla said at the meeting.

He stressed improvements in customs operations and streamlining business processes to foster the smooth flow of legitimate trade across the corridor.

In his opening remarks, Mr Otunla emphasised the significance of Nigeria-Benin economic ties, saying that this relationship was not only vital to their bilateral engagements but also to the broader West African sub-region.

He added that Nigeria and Benin Republic shared a long history of trade and economic cooperation, which must continue to thrive in a secure and orderly environment.

“The existing challenges that hinder trade, including border inefficiencies, regulatory bottlenecks and security concerns, are known.

“There is a need to address these issues to restore the vibrant commercial activity witnessed before the border closure,” Mr Otunla said.

The area commander noted that the objective of the meeting was to foster candid dialogue, identify obstacles and co-create practical, implementable solutions that would promote lawful trade across the Idiroko-Igolo corridor.

Mr Otunla reaffirmed the command’s commitment to immediate action in line with the policy thrust of the comptroller-general of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which emphasised cooperation and collaboration.

“I will utilise all powers within my office to implement the resolutions reached during the engagement,” the Customs boss pledged.

During the interactive session, stakeholders highlighted several impediments affecting business activities at the border, including multiple checkpoints and poor road infrastructure.

Other bottlenecks, the stakeholders noted, are inadequate space for handling large volumes of containers, tariff and non-tariff barriers, absence of effective dispute resolution mechanisms and persistent security challenges.

Following the discussions, participants inspected a one-hectare site provided by the command, which was capable of accommodating over 30 containers, an infrastructural step forward toward easing cargo flow.

Some of the stakeholders expressed optimism and agreed that with the measures and assurances provided by the command, Idiroko would soon experience a resurgence in legitimate cross-border trade.

The statement said that the strategic meeting, held at the command’s conference room, brought together key players in cross-border trade, including representatives from the Benin Republic Customs Authority.

It added that other stakeholders in attendance included trade associations, business leaders, clearing agents from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and Customs liaison officers.

(NAN)