Newly Commissioned $4.5 billion ECOWAS Border will Facilitate Ease of Doing Business-Seme Customs

By ZION Olalekan |

The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said that the newly commissioned Joint Border Post by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the Seme border will enhance border security and seamless facilitation of legitimate trade, in tandem with the executive order on the ease of doing business.

Customs Area Controller of Seme Command; Compt. Mohammed Aliyu stated this on Wednesday.

Nigeriamaritime360.com learnt that the technical simulation and handover of the Joint Border Post by the ECOWAS took place on Friday, 27th July 2018.

Also, the $4.5 billion joint border facility is to be jointly operated by Nigeria and Benin Republic, with increased hopes of smoother trade across West Africa and with third party countries. The post was opened for preliminary operations today, ahead of the official launch in September.

In a press statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Customs Saidu Nuruddeen Abdullahi for the Public Relations Officer yesterday, the Customs Area Controller stated that the command realized N575, 623,365.00 as revenue in the month of July, 2018.

He assured that the Joint Border Post will serve as a platform that will simplify Customs procedures while increasing cooperation, collaboration, coordination and harmonious working relationships at the border post.

The anti-smuggling operation of the Command also made Ninety-one (91) seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Hundred and Thirty Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighteen Naira only (N130, 899,518.00) for the period under review.

Commenting on the revenue figure, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Compt. Mohammed Aliyu said to have expressed satisfaction over the figure generated as he made the assertion that the revenue generated represented about 85 percent of the revenue target budgeted for the command.

“In the same vein, the Customs Area Controller showcased a remarkable seizure of Fire Spice Gin with a 42% concentrate of Alcohol. Over 2000 cartons of the said items were found concealed in a truck with the intention of evading customs control. The seized item has a duty paid value of over thirteen million naira”

“He stressed the commitment of Customs officers of the Command in securing the border against illicit trade that is harmful to the health and wellbeing of the citizenry”.