The Nigeria Customs Service has again restated its dedication to tightening border oversight and advancing regulated transit commerce after the Federal Government authorised the reopening of the Tsamiya border route in Kebbi State.
Details of the development were contained in a Sunday release signed by the agency’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, following deliberations at a top-level stakeholders’ forum convened on Saturday at the Kebbi State Government House.
Participants at the session included operatives from various security formations, traditional authorities, commercial actors, and foreign customs delegates. The gathering served as a platform to review actionable steps for reinforcing the security framework across the North-West frontier while allowing lawful trade movements to continue under firm regulatory supervision.
“The reopening of the corridor underscores the Service’s ongoing drive to balance national security priorities with trade facilitation objectives, particularly along critical land routes and the River Niger corridor that connects Nigeria with neighbouring countries,” the statement read in part.
While addressing attendees, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, highlighted the necessity of structured cooperation among agencies and neighbouring states to confront emerging risks linked to transit activities and border safety.
“Criminal elements operate through cooperation, shared resources, and organised networks. This makes it imperative for security agencies to work together in a coordinated manner to effectively counter such threats,” Adeniyi said.
He further explained that sustained engagement is ongoing between the Nigerian Customs and their counterparts in the Niger Republic and the Republic of Benin, backed by the leadership commitment of President Bola Tinubu and President Patrice Talon, to tackle lingering transit-related bottlenecks through joint institutional action.
“Diversion of goods in transit is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a cross-border challenge that requires coordinated enforcement, clear guidelines, and strict compliance to ensure that goods reach their intended destinations,” Adeniyi stated.
The Customs boss noted that activities along the Tsamiya route would be governed by tighter supervision, including the use of interconnected digital tracking systems, enhanced verification of licensed clearing professionals, and closer monitoring of consignments on transit.
He issued a warning that any haulage vehicle discovered deviating from the approved alignment would be impounded, with culprits facing legal action under applicable transit laws, pointing to recent court cases as evidence of firm enforcement.
Adeniyi also applauded the Kebbi State administration for promoting synergy among security outfits and acknowledged the input of retired senior officers from the state in strengthening the institution and national protection efforts.
In his contribution, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris reiterated the state’s readiness to assist customs and allied agencies through logistics backing, infrastructural support, and sustained engagement with border communities.
“The Kebbi State Government remains committed to prioritising security and creating an enabling environment for security agencies to operate effectively, while ensuring that border communities benefit from sustained development,” the Governor said.
The Tsamiya route is a transnational passage in Nigeria’s North-West that links the country with the Republic of Benin near Segbana and functions as a strategic pathway for the movement of cargo. It lies within Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, close to the Tsamiya land crossing into Benin.
