Godfrey BIVBERE

Despite the outcry over the persistence of multiple checkpoints along the Seme-Mile2 expressway, it has been revealed that the involvement of some top government officials and the benefits from these illegal checkpoints running into N204,600,000.00, has made it difficult for the illegal activities of these security outfits to the checked.

Check points

Investigation revealed that the over 40 checkpoints now reduced to about 20 after Vanguard’s exclusive titled “Seme-Mile2 express multiple checkpoints, a diplomatic nuisance” published in Financial Vanguard on the 25th of April, 2010, rake in as much as N9,900,000.00 every day illegally.

Vanguard’s independent investigation revealed that of the estimated 4,000 vehicles that ply that route daily, about 1,000 are commercial vehicles and each is made to part with two hundred naira (N200) (Some are made to part with N300 to N2,000 depending on the kind of goods they are conveying) every trip.

The estimate is based on the seven motor parks dedicated to the Badagry-Seme route daily. There are Lagos Island, two at Mile2, same number at Iyanu-Iba, one each at Alaba-Rago, PPL and Okoko. Also considered are those that ply the route without patronizing any of the motor parks.

However, for the purpose of the report, N200 multiplied by 1,000 commercial vehicles and another 500 that make two trips a day, the total amount collected by one checkpoint comes to N300,000.00 every day.

When this is multiplied by the 33 checkpoints along the route, the total revenue gotten from the illegal post comes to N9,900,000.00. Should this be multiplied by 30 days in a month (because they are always on the road), it will bring the total money collected by these security agencies to N297,000,000.00. A simple multiplication of N297,000,000.00 by the 12 months in a year will bring the total haul by these checkpoint to N3,564,000,000.00.

The funny thing in all these is that why a few individuals are smiling to the bank daily, the nation’s economy is bleeding and the Nigerian masses are at the receiving end. Apart from what goes to the high command of each of the security agencies involved in this illegal act, a police officer at one of the checkpoints told Vanguard that the high commands in turn settle some very senior government officials at the nation’s seat of power.

The officer reasoned that if it were not so, why is it difficult to stop the act despite the complaints from all sides against the practice. According to him, “Look, you people will only make all the noise but these checkpoints have come to stay. ‘Nothing anybody go fit do’.”

Speaking with Vanguard on the number of checkpoints along that route, Mr. Dominic Ukpemi, said that the last report by Vanguard resulted in near disappearance of the checkpoints but expressed regret that the number has grown steadily since then. According to Ukpemi, Police checkpoints are still more along the route at 24 while the Customs has nine.

He also explained that all the Police Divisions along the route, Seme, Badagry, Oguafun, Morogbo and Ijanike, still post their men along the road. He also disclosed that the Anti-Terrorist squad sent to the border has two road blocks while the squad set up by the Police authorities to checkmate the activities of its officers has also set two check points along the route.

While the Customs authorities insist that they have only approved three checkpoints at Gbagi, Agbara and Aradagun, there are about five between Seme border and Badagry and four between Badagry and Agbara.

Speaking on the emergence of multiple checkpoints between Seme and Badagry, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Seme border station, Mohammed Bawa, said it is not true. Bawa explained that he only deployed his officers to effectively patrol the route to ensure that illegal imports are not smuggled through the border.

He noted that what the officers do is to patrol, using their vehicles and not mounting of road blocks. However, a check on that area this week revealed that there are five checkpoints along the route.

Vanguard gathered that officials of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone “A” who are supposed to be manning these three checkpoints are responsible for the expansion of the road blocks by the Customs.

It is leant they have now resorted to splitting themselves to four instead of two between Badagry and Agbara. Efforts to reach the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Kane.

It would be recalled that Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, last month described the reappearance of multiple security checks route as frustrating and uncalled for. Obanikoro had said then that the multiple check points create hostility in the borders of other ECOWAS countries to free trade facilitation.

The Nigerian Ambassador who hosted members of Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria MARAN at the Nigerian Embassy, Accra , noted that everyone is guilty of hostility along the ECOWAS borders. According to him, “Checkpoints from Seme Border to Mile 2 are more than 40, it is frustrating when officers who are to facilitate trade suddenly turn to stumbling block. With this, we can not promote trade in the corridor of the ECOWAS and it is unfortunate,” he said
To improve trade in the region, Obanikoro said there is a need for ECOWAS to create a platform for all ECOWAS ambassadors to meet and compare notes on how to facilitate trade to further boost efforts being made by the ECOWAS governments to engender growth in the region.

Other security agencies present along the route are the Quarantine, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), not permanent and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Similarly, the Port Health Control, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), State Security Service (SSS) and others are still present along the route, though not as pronounced as they used to be.