Customs to extend patrol beyond Seme border.

By Afolabi Oyekunle with agency report.

The new Comptroller of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Timi Bomodi, has said that the service, under his supervision, will soon extend its operations into the Benin Republic and vice versa.

Bomodi said this on Monday, September 18, when he took over from Dera Nnadi as the new Area Comptroller of the command.

His comment is coming days after a bilateral agreement between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Republic of Benin Customs Administration.

According to Bomodi, the customs administration of both countries would start generating revenues in trillions of dollars once the implementation begins.

“If what was proposed would come into fruition, it means that the functions of NCS is going to extend beyond the borders and it is going right into the corridor of Benin Republic, vis-a-vis the operations of Benin Customs would also extend beyond its borders right into our ports.

“It is going to be a symbiotic relationship, and we cannot expect anything less than what we give, we expect excellence on both sides of the divide, and hopefully, it would be transformative,” the Customs Comptroller said.

Nigeria Customs said it had concluded plans to partner with the Republic of Benin Customs Administration so as to enhance cross-border trade between the two West African nations.

Reflecting on the new development, Bomodi said yesterday that once the trade was enhanced, the capacity to generate more revenue would also be enhanced.