ECOWAS President Decries Poor Conditions at Nigeria-Benin Border: ‘No Light, No Water, Broken Scanners’
ECOWAS President Omar Touray has condemned the poor state of infrastructure at the Nigeria-Benin Republic Seme border, despite significant investments by ECOWAS. Touray, during an official visit to assess the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Services, noted that the border, one of the busiest and most strategic in West Africa, is plagued by malfunctioning equipment, including scanners, lighting systems, and bridges.
Touray emphasized the need for urgent reforms to uphold the free movement protocol, calling on member states to take responsibility for maintaining infrastructure rather than relying on ECOWAS for repairs. He stressed that millions of dollars have been spent on equipment that remains unused, contributing to inefficiencies and frustrations at the border.
The ECOWAS President also highlighted the proliferation of checkpoints, which he argued contradicts the spirit of free movement within the region. He called for transparency and strict enforcement against unofficial payments, citing reports of citizens being charged without receipts. Additionally, Touray clarified that while free movement is key, it should not compromise necessary documentation and security checks.
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Mr. Touray’s visit included engagements with border security officials and citizens on both sides of the border to better understand the operational challenges. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Musa Nuhu, also pointed out the critical nature of the Seme border in ensuring the success of the free movement protocol. He revealed that a Presidential Task Force has been set up to dismantle the multiple checkpoints, an initiative recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.
In addition to the logistical challenges, the Nigeria Customs Service at the border shared concerns about the lack of electricity and water, as well as the failure of security scanners to detect illegal goods. These issues highlight the growing gap between ECOWAS’s ambitious policies and their on-the-ground implementation.
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