BY GODWIN OBI
In a decisive move to enhance trade efficiency and dismantle long-standing bottlenecks, the Nigeria Customs Service has reduced the number of checkpoints along the busy Atan–Idiroko corridor in Ogun State from 16 to just three.
The reform, driven by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, is being implemented by the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Deputy Controller Oladapo Afeni, as part of a broader strategy to facilitate legitimate trade while strengthening border security.
Afeni confirmed that only three checkpoints—Ajilete, Ihunbo, and Atan—are now operational along the route, marking a significant shift from the previous heavy checkpoint presence that had long slowed down movement and increased transport costs.
He explained that the reduction aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at creating a more trade-friendly border environment without compromising anti-smuggling efforts. Rather than relying on multiple physical checkpoints, the Command is now leveraging intelligence-driven surveillance and coordinated patrols to monitor activities along the corridor.
“This strategy is designed to eliminate trade bottlenecks, enhance border security, and promote the seamless movement of legitimate goods,” Afeni stated, emphasizing the Service’s commitment to modern, intelligence-based enforcement.
The Atan–Idiroko axis remains one of Nigeria’s busiest land trade routes, linking the country to the Benin Republic and serving as a critical gateway for regional commerce in West Africa.
For years, traders and transporters operating along the corridor had decried the proliferation of checkpoints, citing delays, congestion, and rising logistics costs. The latest development has therefore been widely welcomed by residents and business operators in border communities.
Many described the move as long overdue, noting that previous efforts to streamline operations along the route had failed to yield tangible results.
A resident of Ajegunle Idiroko, Ashimiu Alabi, praised the initiative, describing it as a “bold and courageous step” that is already stimulating economic activity in the area.
According to observers, the reform could significantly improve Nigeria’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area by making land border operations more efficient, predictable, and conducive to intra-African trade.
With fewer checkpoints and a stronger focus on intelligence-led enforcement, the Customs Service appears poised to strike a more effective balance between trade facilitation and national security—an outcome long sought by stakeholders across the logistics and commerce value chain.
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2026-04-02
