Joint Border Security Exercise: Travellers Groan Over Long Delays At Seme

Many travellers and vehicles were stranded for hours yesterday at Seme border post following restriction of movement around the country’s frontier with Benin Republic.
The Tide source correspondent who visited Seme reports that the restriction followed the joint border security exercise ordered by the Federal Government aimed at securing Nigeria’s land and maritime borders.
The exercise, code-named, ‘Ex-Swift Response’, was being jointly conducted by the customs, immigration, police and military personnel and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The source reports that incoming travellers and vehicles were thoroughly searched by the additional security officials drafted to the border, causing long delays.
Many commercial vehicles conveying passengers into the country were ordered to park at the new border post for several hours while hundreds of Nigeria-bound trucks were parked across the border.
A passenger on Chisco Bus Transport, Mr Christopher Lawal, told newsmen that their vehicle had been stopped for inspection for several hours.
“We don’t know what is happening. Our bus was stopped for inspection since 12 noon, they just asked us to wait.
“We have spent close to three hours now and nobody is telling us what is happening.”