60 DAYS TO XMAS
Nigerians in Cotonou beg Yar’Adua ‘Please, fix
our roads’
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG
Thursday,
October 25, 2007
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Abdullahi (L) with Col Umoru during visit to 242 Recce
Battalion.
PHOTOS: MAURICE ARCHIBONG
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Today is Thursday October 25, which means that December 25
or Christmas Day is exactly 60 days away. Traditionally, millions
of Nigerians living abroad pour into their country during
this season, for Christmas offers an opportunity, perhaps
the only one in each year, when major decisions are taken
because virtually all indigenes of some clans or ethnic groups
are sure of being home during the period.
To kill as many birds as possible with one stone, in a manner
of speaking, numerous social events such as engagements and
weddings are often slated for this season, when people would
be around to attend. Although the Yuletide is still observed
and celebrated in its original context, new dimensions have
been added to the fiesta, which is the reason behind the staggering
influx of homeward bound Nigerians at this time.
Although the majority of those visiting home usually arrive
about a week to Xmas Day, most Nigerians in foreign lands
are already planning their annual homecoming by now. A large
portion of the millions of Nigerians that wash home for the
Yuletide live in neighbouring West African countries, and
normally travel by road. One can therefore understand why
Nigerian community leaders in next-door Benin Republic have
chosen to cry out to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over
the state of roads in their country.
Roads in urgent need of rehabilitation or outright reconstruction
include Seme-Badagry-Lagos Expressway, Ore-Benin-Onitsha-Owerri
Road, Enugu-Umuahia-Port Harcourt Expressway, Calabar-Ikom-Alok-Ogoja
Road, Calabar-Itu-Uyo Road, Ikot Ekpene-Aba-Port Harcourt
Highway and Calabar-Ekang Road. Particularly important is
the Calabar-Ekang Road, which leads to the Cameroons and other
Central African destinations, the Seme-Badagry-Lagos, gateway
to all other ECOWAS member states in West Africa as well as
Ore-Benin-Onitsha-Owerri Road, which links Nigeria’s
western areas to the East, and through Enugu to the Middle
Belt parts.
Chief Ebuka Onunkwo and Chief Victor Bruno Omoregbe, leader
of Igbo Union (IUC) and premiere Chairman of Edo State Community
Union (ESCU) in Cotonou; respectively were among Nigerians
that spoke to Travels in the economic capital of Benin Republic
recently.
Hear Chief Onunkwo: "When we think of the poor state
of roads in some parts of Nigeria, we are afraid of coming
home. For those of us in neighbouring West African countries,
the problem starts almost as soon as you cross the border
into Nigeria. Right from Seme, through Badagry and all the
way to Mile Two in Lagos, the Seme-Badagry-Lagos Expressway
is in a very bad shape. Apart from the embarrassing condition
of this road, there’s also the lingering threat of armed
robbers. These things make us afraid, when we think of coming
home. And you know it is not right, when people become scared
of visiting their fatherland."
When we spoke to Chief Onunkwo, CEO of Bukas International
Sarl, shortly after the May 29, 2007 date of President Umaru
Yar’Adua’s inauguration, this Igbo leader had
expressed faith in the new government. In fact, he had enthused,
like countless other Nigerians in Cotonou, that the President
Yar’Adua-led administration would not disappoint. With
the Nigerian president already on the verge of six months
in office, what’s Chief Onunkwo’s take? Has his
view changed, given the prevailing parlous condition of roads?
The Bukas International boss said he stands by his earlier
position that Alhaji Yar’Adua would work hard to improve
the lot of Nigerians. The Igbo chief recalled that barely
two months after President Yar’Adua assumed office,
Nigerian Community Union (NUC) got approval for the evacuation
of the remains of three Nigerians, which had been in a Cotonou
morgue for more than two years.
It could be recalled that the corpses of three Nigerians,
Chinedu Ohuka, Nnamdi Ogoko and Eleanya Ogbu, killed in the
first week of May 2005, were virtually detained at Hubert
Koutoukou Maga National University Teaching Hospital in Cotonou
for more than two years. However, with 10 days of the Yar’Adua
Presidency, permission for the removal of the victims’
remains had come from Benin Foreign Ministry to Nigerian Embassy,
Cotonou, via a diplomatic memo (Note verbal) with reference
number 0397/MAE/SGM/DACC/SCAGS dated June 7, 2007.
"With this, our optimism that the president’s tenure
would yield good fruits was enhanced. So, we are still hopeful
that he can fix these roads." Chief Onunkwo was, however,
quick to stress that all eyes are on Mr. President as regards
the state of roads in the country vis-à-vis the forthcoming
Yuletide. "By Christmas, President Yar’Adua would
have spent roughly seven months in office. My sincere belief
is that this president wants the best for his country; there’s
no doubt that President Yar’Adua means well, but he
must distance himself from any one, who does not share his
mindset on improving the situation in the country."
Aside asking President Yar’Adua to redress the state
of Nigerian highways, Onunkwo had another advice for the nation’s
number one citizen. "The provision of good roads is of
paramount importance, but so also is the issue of energy.
I have said in numerous interviews that without stable power
supply, nothing can be achieved. If the government can provide
uninterrupted electricity, this will encourage more investors
to put their money in Nigeria. Such investments would generate
employment and consequently boost the economy," the Igbo
chief submitted.
In the same vein, Chief Omoregbe, who is President of Richmond
Oil and Gas Worldwide, sounded hopeful about the outcome of
President Yar’Adua’s tenure. The Edo community
chairman, however, also wanted to see some positive development
with regard to timely rehabilitation of the Seme-Badagry-Lagos
Expressway, the Ore-Benin-Onitsha-Owerri Road and other roads
before Christmas to save the lives of many Nigerians during
the Yuletide. Omoregbe, CEO of Sigma Investment Holdings Sarl,
added that the state of Nigerian roads translate into a big
dent on the nation’s image because millions of nationals
from other countries ply these highways and take their impression
of Nigeria to their home countries.
The memorable Peace and Unity Concert, which thrilled countless
fun seekers during the 2006 Christmas/New Year fiesta at the
Nigeria-Benin Republic frontier settlements of Seme-Krake,
was a brainchild of Mr. Victor Omoregbe, who apparently has
vested interest in an improvement in the state of roads at
home. If the Seme-Badagry-Lagos route was smoother and safer,
thousands more Nigerians would have attended that peace and
unity concert, he intoned.
Moreover, Satoh Records, one of the subsidiaries of Omoregbe’s
Sigma Investment Holdings Sarl, is planning to bring a troupe
of international artistes to perform in Nigeria as well as
promote Nigerian stars in other countries of West Africa.
Naturally, the man is worried. One couldn’t help but
shudder, when he prayed: "God forbid that armed robbers
should attack any of our entourage." But, even, where
the performers do not encounter bandits, the state of our
roads alone would be scandalous enough, he reasoned.
As to why Nigerians who spoke to Travels decided to cry out
rather early, Chief Onunkwo again: "This is necessary
to give the Federal Government two months to prove what it
can do before Christmas."
Many Nigerians, who spoke to Travels in Cotonou, were of the
view that "all the colossal sums of money being mentioned
in connection with alleged corruption on the part of leading
legislators, if invested in roads and electricity supply,
would definitely reduce the suffering by Nigerians."
It’s said that life is a two-way street: it is about
give and take. Having heard the plea of Nigerians in Cotonou,
"Travels" sought to know what was expected of them
in return. Since most of the Nigerians would be passing through
Seme Border, we turned to the Controller of Immigration Service
(NIS), Mr. Emmanuel Gbuuga for his advice to those visiting
home for the Yuletide. But as prelude to the NIS chief’s
comments, we scoured our data bank to help the reader know
what to expect at the border. It is worth noting that during
such peak periods as the forthcoming Yuletide, miscreants
seize the cover provided by the human torrent and stalk bona
fide commuters with a view to preying on them. All travellers,
both incoming and outgoing, therefore must remain at alert
at all times, when crossing the border.
With regard to official requirements, the wayfarer needs regular
travel papers, such as Passport or ECOWAS Travel Certificate
and a Health Certificate alias Yellow Card. Although many
citizens of ECOWAS member-nations frequently visit neighbouring
West African countries armed only with a national ID card
or employment/student ID, it is safer to have proper travel
documents. It is also important to observe the rule governing
Currency Declaration.
Currency Declaration
The traveller is strongly advised to collect and fill a Currency
Declaration Form before crossing Nigeria’s border into
a foreign country. Currency Declaration Form is available
at Seme, other land borders and international airports. Customs
officials should readily assist in this regard, and the traveller
is strongly advised to take advantage of their service, especially
as there are stiff penalties for ignoring the currency declaration
regulation.
Former CAC Seme Border, Comptroller Tahir Musa, revealed on
November 23, 2006, during the launch of Servicom Charter in
Seme that on the Benin Republic side of Seme Border (Krake),
the penalty for failing to declare currency attracts instant
justice, which is forfeiture of 20 per cent of the total amount
in the traveller’s possession. In Nigeria, however,
the punishment is stiffer as the inscription on a public notice
on Currency Declaration mounted by ECOWAS House, Seme reveals.
According to that neon sign, "All travellers are advised
to declare all currencies and other negotiable instruments
in their possession. Failure to do so contravenes Foreign
Exchange Provisions Act of 1995, Money Laundering Act of 2004,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act of 2004,
which makes it liable for instant forfeiture, seizure and
prosecution."
Apart from declaring currency, it is also safer to exchange
money in a registered bureau de change, instead of patronizing
roadside dealers. A number of travellers have run into trouble
for passing on counterfeit notes allegedly collected from
roadside moneychangers. Better still; avoid carrying cash
as much as possible.
The traveller should take advantage of services offered by
a few banks, which have branches in other ECOWAS countries.
The frontier settlement of Krake and Cotonou, both in Benin
Republic, as well as the Togolese and Ghanaian capital cities
of Lome and Accra respectively, hold quite a number of such
financial houses, which include Ecobank, Diamond Bank, Zenith,
and Guaranty Trust (GT). At Seme, on the Nigerian side, Skye
Bank has been on ground for some time, and UBA is also opening
for business here, soon.
Back to Controller Gbuuga: The immigration helmsman said although
the human traffic normally goes up during this season, everyone
at Seme control post would do their best, as usual. He however
rued: "If we had full control of this border, nobody
would elude us." Alluding to the peculiar situation of
Nigerian security posts at Seme, Mr. Gbuuga observed: "Any
one that escaped us must have exploited the flanks."
Nigerian security posts at Seme are located in two structures
called ECOWAS House. Both buildings for Arrival and Departure
are landlocked inside Benin Republic. This poses an insurmountable
obstacle to Nigerian security operatives, who lack administrative
authority to enforce their country’s laws in a foreign
land. Not surprisingly, countless commuters, which include
smugglers, drug couriers, gun runners, human traffickers and
sundry undesirable elements, prefer to ply unofficial paths
provided by loose flanks, thus circumventing security checks
completely.
The reaction of Nigerian security agencies at Seme to the
loopholes posed by the curious situation of their frontier
posts was to erect checkpoints at several spots further hinterland.
However, this measure frequently comes under criticism by
members of the public, who see such barricades as extortion
points. On the other hand, protagonists of these barricades
have many positive results to cite as reasons why checkpoints
must stand. It could be recalled that one Saba, a Togolese
drug smuggling suspect, was arrested at Gbaji (some 15 km
from the border).
Gbaji is also where Nigeria Customs officers eventually aborted
the attempt of two Ghanaians to ferry 1, 094 shot gun pellets
to Anambra State in July 2005. It is similarly noteworthy
that the bullet couriers had successfully entered Nigeria
before they were caught.
Analysts say the loose security problem does not necessarily
arise from the situation of the official frontier posts on
Benin soil. Such observers recall that for over a decade,
security functionaries of both countries operated inside a
building on Nigerian territory. They argue that no cases of
morbid clashes were recorded for the entire period that these
officials worked in that structure, now called Old Baggage.
On the issue of extortion, the immigration controller said
it would be wrong to assume that every member of all the security
agencies is corrupt. This misconception, he intoned, could
have a backlash, were officers to be intimidated by fear of
being accused of attempt to extort money. The Gboko-born Tiv
man, who took a degree in history at Ahmadu Bello University
(ABU) in 1981, after Higher School Certificate (HSC) studies
at the prestigious Government College Keffi (President Yar’Adua’s
alma mater), insisted that his officers would continue to
carry out their duty without fear or favour.
His stance is easy to share, for it was one of these checks
that yielded the recovery of firearms from two travellers.
"This was one of our most remarkable achievements. It
shows that, apart from our primary duty of controlling movement
of people in and out of our country, we also complement the
role of sister agencies," enthused Controller Gbuuga,
an alumnus of Nigeria State Security Service (SSS) Academy,
Ojo, and Advanced Staff College, Sokoto.
Gbuuga assumed duty as Seme NIS helmsman in September last
year. What has changed, since he took office, we probed. "Apart
from aborting numerous attempts by human traffickers and recording
the weapons recovery earlier mentioned, I am very happy that
since I came here, nobody has come to lodge any complaint
with me over misconduct on the part of any of my officers.
Also, I am happy to note that the number of major commercial
transport companies plying the West African route have increased
during my tenure. We have not done badly, otherwise we would
not be getting the letters of commendation that various bodies
have given to us," he concluded.
No story on Seme would be complete without some mention of
the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). In fact, the local Customs
Area Controller (CAC) presides over the monthly meetings on
Joint Internal Security (JIS), where all security organizations
operating at Seme gather to appraise their performance as
well as fine-tune strategies for greater efficiency. The local
Customs chief also chairs the Customs Community Relations
Forum (CCRF), which has contributed to a large extent in reduction
of friction between security operatives and inhabitants of
the border areas nationwide. The CCRF also enhances efficiency
on the part of operatives through intelligence gathering and
so forth, we were told.
Comptroller Dikko Inde Abdullahi is the current Customs Area
Controller (CAC) of Seme Border. Widely believed to be Nigeria’s
smallest land border, the role of Seme Command, which generates
the highest revenue of all the country’s land borders,
could hardly be exaggerated. This aspect, in particular, puts
Seme in a unique position and consequently draws attention
to virtually every development at this border. For example,
officers at Seme are "in the forefront of being the first
security agency to detect any hoodlums and criminal gangs
that infiltrate the nation through land," according to
Mr. Musa Omale, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Seme Area
Command.
Revenue Collection
Although revenue collected by Seme Border Command of the NCS
has consistently been on the increase over the years, things
took a dramatic turn after the arrival of Comptroller Abdullahi
as Customs boss there. Going by the fact that over N2. 04billion
was collected within the first half of this year; it is easy
to agree with those, who stress that this CAC, who assumed
office in February this year, has recorded historic strides
within his first few months at Seme.
Not one for resting on his oars, this CAC has also promised
to sustain the tempo with a view to surpassing the N2.3 billion
revenue target set for Seme Command this year. Widely hailed
as an astute administrator, Comptroller Abdullahi has not
only made monumental strides in the area of revenue generation;
he has turned Seme Border area into a no-go area for smugglers.
Seme Border is the new Waterloo for many smugglers that dared
to brave the local NCS dragnet, as could be gleaned from the
Command’s suppression of smuggling report, which reveals
that whereas in 2004 and 2005 the command recorded 535 seizures
with a duty paid value of almost N457, 516, 643; the Comptroller
Abdullahi-led team clocked 166 seizures with a duty paid value
of over N159 million in the first half of 2007.
"Travels" reliably gathered that Comptroller Abdullahi
has been able to achieve so much because he stepped up patrols
and general surveillance and intensified information gathering,
alias intelligence. The CAC’s "dynamism led to
the shift in emphasis from seizure alone to arrest of smugglers
and possible prosecution." According to PRO Omale, a
Superintendent of Customs, this strategy has seriously deterred
the economic saboteurs. Consequently, some of those that would
have attempted to bring in goods illegally have come to see
that it is wiser to pay duties. This, in effect, has contributed
to the command’s enviable revenue posture.
Kudos to Abdullahi
Mr. Benjamin Bako Dan-Borno, Treasurer of Seme Chapter of
the Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANLCA),
spoke with "Travels." Mr. Dan-Borno, who has seen
several CACs come and go, since he began operating at Seme
almost 15 years ago, expressed hope of a peaceful working
relationship with the Comptroller Abdullahi-led team. Dan-Borno,
CEO of Cross Maritime Services Limited, thanked Comptroller
General Jacob Gyang Buba and other members of the Customs
high command for always posting competent hands to Seme Border.
An enterprising Takum-born Jukun, Dan-Borno said he was very
happy with all the steps Comptroller Abdullahi had taken since
assuming office at Seme. Hear the Seme ANLCA Treasurer: "We
can see he is carrying out positive reforms at Seme Border."
Mr. Fatai Ilo, MD of Onishaga Commercial Limited believes
CAC Abdullahi would sustain the good ties between Seme Chapter
members of ANLCA and NCS personnel. Mr. Ilo, who is Seme ANLCA
Financial Secretary, however, observed that working at Seme
comes with difficulties, given the absence of Examination
Bay and other drawbacks. He, however, believes there would
be more improvement because "the CAC has a wide and deep
pool of resources to tap from." Ilo, who has been operating
at Seme for roughly 25 years, added: "Seme is vital to
Nigeria’s economy; it is the most lucrative land border.
It is also a very busy area, and a sensitive international
boundary. However, I believe Comptroller Abdullahi would remain
on top of the situation."
During a chat with Travels in his office,
Dr. Emma Ogu Opara, Chairman of Seme Chapter of the ANLCA,
re-echoed the concern of his association’s members over
the absence of an examination Bay (E-Bay) at Seme. This deficiency
was behind the examination of trucks along the Lagos-Seme
Expressway, which often resulted in traffic bottlenecks, the
ANLCA chief explained. Aside want of an E-Bay, the lack of
modern equipment to load and off-load cargo, compelled clearing
agents to hire manual labour, thus spending more money, Opara,
CEO of Lymma Limited, submitted. Opara was nonetheless optimistic
that his members and all security agents at Seme would continue
to enjoy a cordial relationship.
Many agencies have been able to achieve a lot at Seme but
it must be noted that they have been largely successful because
of the presence of the Superintendent Sunday Bada-led International
Joint Border Patrol (JBP). Although Supol Bada would not speak
on the activities of his men at Seme Border, preferring that
we reserve that honour for the Lagos Police Public Relations
Officer (PPRO), Travels can authoritatively reveal that the
JBP has always risen to the occasion, whenever sister agencies
solicited reinforcement from them.
The officers and men working at Seme, like other Nigerians,
are not immune to corruption. Thus, no agency at this border
station is a collection of saints. To be candid, each one
has its share of bad eggs, but weighed against the achievement
of diligent ones in the face of daunting working conditions,
one can candidly say that collectively, these operatives are
doing their best.
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