Customs' CG disbands Border Patrol Team, Reduces Checkpoints Following Hon. Sesi Whingan's Intervention

By Dansu Peter  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the dissolution of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and a significant red...

By Dansu Peter 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the dissolution of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) and a significant reduction in checkpoints nationwide, a move designed to streamline trade facilitation and address concerns over operational excesses. This development follows a motion raised by Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency, addressing allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by Customs officers in the region.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, in a statement yesterday, described the reforms as part of the NCS’s 2025 Enforcement Strategy aimed at enhancing border security, curbing smuggling, and easing the movement of goods and persons. Adeniyi emphasized that the Service would adopt intelligence-driven enforcement strategies, including the use of geospatial tools and advanced technologies, to maintain border security while reducing operational bottlenecks.

The JBPT, which was established in 2019 to enforce Nigeria’s partial border closure policy under "Ex-Swift Response," has been dissolved after consultations with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Adeniyi acknowledged the team’s contributions to combating the influx of dangerous goods but stressed the need for a more streamlined and efficient approach.

This announcement comes in the wake of Hon. Whingan’s vocal condemnation of the alleged assault and harassment of Badagry citizens by Customs operatives. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hon. Whingan reiterated the need for Customs officers to respect the dignity and rights of residents while performing their duties.

“Badagry people are not smugglers. The continuous profiling and assault of our youths by some unscrupulous officers of the Nigerian Customs Service are unacceptable and must be stopped immediately,” Hon. Whingan stated.

In a motion presented on December 1, 2024, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Hon. Whingan detailed reports of physical abuse, intimidation, and harassment faced by residents of Badagry under the guise of anti-smuggling operations. He called for a professional, rights-based approach by the NCS to ensure that enforcement activities do not infringe on the fundamental rights of innocent citizens.

The lawmaker commended the decision to dissolve the JBPT and reduce checkpoints, describing it as a victory for Badagry and other affected border communities. He urged the NCS to continue adopting humane and innovative measures that promote trade facilitation while safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians.