President Bola Tinubu has directed the creation of a Presidential Task Force to dismantle the numerous checkpoints along Nigeria’s borders that are obstructing the free movement of people and goods—starting with the Seme-Badagry corridor.
Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, made this known during a visit to the Nigeria-Benin Republic border on Wednesday. He said the task force was established under the authority of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and will begin work shortly.
“We’ve taken note of all the concerns raised, and I assure you that the Nigerian government is committed to resolving them,” Nuhu said.
Motorists and community members have long decried the excessive checkpoints and alleged extortion by security agents along the busy corridor, which is West Africa’s most active border for the movement of goods, services, and people.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray, also present, condemned the extortion, insisting that all official payments must come with receipts.
“We cannot allow informal charges and harassment to undermine regional integration,” Touray said. “Security checks are necessary, but asking people to pay without a receipt is unacceptable.”
The move aligns with ECOWAS’ broader goals to foster seamless movement and economic integration across member states.
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