Nigeria’s President, Mohammadu Buhari has tipped the SÈMÈ-KRAKÉ Joint Border Post between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, to boost the common interest of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Buhari made this statement yesterday while commissioning the project, noting that the border is one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services.
“Permit me therefore to congratulate my brother, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin on the successful completion of this magnificent project. As we all know, Nigeria and Benin share many things in common. Hence, the establishment of the Joint Border Post will certainly promote our brotherliness and emphasize our common interest” he said.
Buhari also expressed the appreciation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the ECOWAS Commission for its contribution to this important project, which made the completion possible and also commended the European Union Commission for their financial commitment.
“I am aware that the European Union supported two other Joint Border at Malanville (between Benin/Niger) and Noepe-Akanu (between Ghana/Togo). As the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I once again express our appreciation to the European Union for believing in our region” he said.
He lamented that the Africa was suffering from inadequate transport infrastructure and inefficient services, which was one of the major bottlenecks to the attainment of socio-economic development and integration.
“ECOWAS is a region where Ports, Roads, Railways and Airports still remain a constraint despite significant recent progress made” he said.
He stated that the purpose of Joint Border Post implementation by the Community was to achieve greater trade facilitation by combining border clearance activities in a single location, to benefit from economies of scale, to simplify clearance procedures, to increase cooperation and coordination of controls, to foster data and intelligence sharing and to improve control against fraud and corruption.
According to him, the objective is to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the main transport corridors in West Africa so as to boost international trade which is a key factor of growth and contributor to poverty alleviation.
“I am delighted that the improvement in the SÈMÈ-KRAKÉ infrastructure that commenced in 2011 has been completed in an area which is approximately 17 hectares. The Border Post is strategically important and lies on the Lagos-Cotonou-Lome-Accra-Abidjan corridor, which accounts for about 70% of the entire transit traffic in the sub-region. The corridor is also part of the Trans-African Highway network. This Joint Border Post with modern enabling facilities is a flagship project in ECOWAS and a good example of regional public assets with a spill-over range of benefits”.
“This Seme-Krake joint Border Post is a symbol of integration that brings together the peoples of Nigeria and Benin. I believe that this edifice would further enhance border officials working condition and would make them more efficient and effective in carrying out their duties. Though the operation on this facility shall be carried out jointly, I will like to urge them to ensure that their operations are carried out within the guiding principles of ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, he admonished the Joint Committee with membership from Nigeria and Benin to be prepared for the complex task ahead of them.
“The committee must ensure that border officials are sensitized on the mode of operation of the Joint Border Post concept which is a big departure from the traditional mode of operation. I call on the ECOWAS Commission to continue to provide the needed support to this Committee” he said.
