The delegation from the Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (BACCIMA), led by the President of the Chamber Alh. Yahaya Oladiran Idris arrived at the Seme Border office of the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller. Kayode Rasheed Kolade at about 11 am.
The delegation was ushered into the Area Controller’s office, where he along with members of his management team expressed their delight and welcomed the BACCIMA team.
The meeting started with the PRO of the Customs command welcoming the BACCIMA delegates and introducing the Customs Service Seme Border management team to the BACCIMA team. After that, he handed over the baton of introductions to our spokesperson, Mrs. Adenike Alade, the Communications Director, who did a splendid job of introducing the delegates and gave the necessary recognition to the BACCIMA President.
Why Are We Here?
Mr. Ashamu Fadipe, the first deputy president gave a brief history of the chamber, explaining that one of the reasons for its birth was poverty alleviation for the Badagry traders and indeed, those who engage in cross-border trades.
The BACCIMA President, Alh. Yahaya Oladiran Idris then gave his speech, acknowledging the Customs Command for their efforts in regulating trade at our borders and making it possible for traders to continue to do business legally. He said, however, that we at BACCIMA would like to complement the Customs agencies’ effort to enhance the untapped economic potential and assist in educating traders who engage in business within the region.
He further emphasized the reason why the border reopening should extend to vehicle importation so that the families already affected by the border closure can resume business and find succor in the trades they know best to do, thereby reducing the biting impact of the current economy and revitalizing the trade corridor. Cross-border initiatives have been put in place by BACCIMA for a more organized and mutually beneficial result, he said.
The president also hinted that the current CAC, by virtue of his assumption of office has also become the Chairman of the cross-border trade initiative of Lagos-Abidjan Corridor, since his predecessor Controller Muhammed Jibo, now DCG HRD was appointed the Chairman of the initiative, by the Nigerian former ambassador to Benin Republic, Amb. Aluko Olukayode.
Moving forward, the President also appealed to the Nigerian Customs Service to be one of the vanguards for the quick development of the Badagry Deep Seaport while also requesting for office accommodations for the Chamber at the border. The office space, he said, is expected to be used as the BACCIMA cross-border trade facilitation center that will serve as an information hub, enabling the chamber to provide real-time assistance to cross-border traders, fostering legal compliance, and providing resources and guidance directly to cross-border traders at the border entry points. The President also raised the issue of skill acquisition centres under discussion between the Nigeria Customs Service Seme command and BACCIMA under the leadership of his predecessor Compt Bomode now ACG enforcement headquarters.
