Ogun Customs Reduces Border Checkpoints To Facilitate Trade

In line with the agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to facilitate legitimate trade across Nigeria’s land borders, the acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Ogun I Command, Deputy Controller Oladapo Afeni, has reduced the number of checkpoints along the Atan–Idiroko road from 16 to three.

The development is part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to ease the movement of goods and persons along one of the country’s major cross-border trade corridors while strengthening intelligence-driven enforcement against smuggling.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, the acting Customs area controller said the three approved checkpoints are Ajilete, Ihunbo and Atan checkpoints.

Afeni argued that the decision to drastically reduce the number of checkpoints was aimed at promoting smoother intra-African trade and eliminating long-standing bottlenecks that hinder the movement of legitimate goods.

According to him, the move aligns with the broader reforms being implemented by the leadership of the Service to ensure that border operations facilitate trade while maintaining effective security and anti-smuggling surveillance.

“This strategy is aimed at removing bottlenecks associated with trade, strengthening border security, combating smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade.

“This development underscores the Command’s commitment to leveraging innovative, intelligence-driven approaches for effective border enforcement and anti-smuggling operations,” he said.

Afeni explained that rather than relying on multiple physical checkpoints, the command is increasingly adopting intelligence-based monitoring and coordinated patrol operations to detect and intercept illicit trade activities along the border corridor.

The Atan–Idiroko axis is one of the busiest trade routes linking Nigeria with neighbouring Benin Republic and forms a key segment of regional trade within West Africa.

Over the years, the proliferation of checkpoints along the corridor had been a major concern for traders, transporters and residents who complained of delays, congestion and increased cost of moving goods.

Meanwhile, residents and business operators in border communities have welcomed the decision by the Customs command, describing it as a long-awaited intervention that will significantly improve trade activities and ease mobility in the area.

According to them, the dismantling of the numerous checkpoints is a bold step that previous administrations had struggled to implement despite persistent complaints from traders and residents.

A resident of Ajegunle Idiroko community, Ashimiu Alabi, commended the Acting CAC for what he described as a courageous move that has already begun to improve economic activities in the area.

“This is a great feat. It has increase movement of goods into the border area and activities have picked up. We beg the CAC to ensure enforcement to the fullest,” he stated.

Other community members also expressed optimism that the development would encourage more legitimate cross-border trade, reduce transportation delays and improve economic activities in communities along the Atan–Idiroko corridor.

Observers say the initiative could further strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making land border operations more efficient and trade-friendly.

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