A virgin visitor (as often referred to first timers) to the boarder town called Seme, would have a hard time through the corruption, which could be referred to as an organized crime. While the mantra has not ceased, behind Nigeria’s backyard, corruption and corrupt practices by the officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) continue to thrive unabated with the attendant security risk to the nation.
A virgin visitor (as often referred to first timers) to the boarder town called Seme, would have a hard time through the corruption, which could be referred to as an organized crime. While the mantra has not ceased, behind Nigeria’s backyard, corruption and corrupt practices by the officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) continue to thrive unabated with the attendant security risk to the nation.
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A visit to Seme, a border town with Republic of Benin, was an eye opener to the possibility that the current security challenges being faced by the country may not be unconnected to the nefarious activities of the officials of the NIS posted at the various border towns in Nigeria. The experience of the writer at Seme on June 23rd and 28th respectively, which apparently is a daily experience by other compatriots and non-Nigerians crossing the border, clearly shows that Nigerian government officials may have willingly contributed to the present security challenges bedevilling the nation.
On June 23rd, I had embarked on a five-day visit to Cotonou in the Republic of Benin. Driving through the road to Seme, a major international gateway into and out of Nigeria, one can begin to imagine the extent of infrastructural decay that has made living in Nigeria a hell on earth. Littered all over the highway were accidented vehicles in various degrees of metal decay. Huge craters in the middle of the road tasked the driving skills of our air-conditioned Prado Jeep driver. All these notwithstanding, we made it to Seme border in one piece.
Arriving at the border post at the Nigerian side, the driver enquired if we wanted our international passport to be stamped by the immigration authorities. I was nonplussed at this enquiry, as it is customary for any traveller crossing international borderlines either by land or by air to go through immigration formalities. We told him that it was the normal thing to do as a matter of policy from the organization that sent us and provided our international passport to him for immigration formalities. These same formalities were required at the immigration border post at the Beninois side. While waiting for the driver to complete the formalities, we noticed several commercial motorcycle riders and their passengers from both sides of the border crossing through the border barrier without as much as providing any international passport for relevant checks by either immigration authorities. My curiosity was further aroused upon my observation that at intervals, the immigration officials from both sides of the border would stretch out their hands and some naira notes or CFA notes would be stuffed into their outstretched hands and the motorcycle operators and the passengers would wave through the border posts.
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I enquired from our driver, who seemed to be popular with the border officials, to explain the curious scenario playing out in full public glare. Then I heard the bombshell. The driver alleged that part of the fare we paid was used to “regularise” some international passport, as some team members’ passport was regarded as “virgin passport” by the immigration officials. A virgin passport will require N1,000 to be stamped by the Nigerian Immigration and thereafter, N500 for subsequent stamping. For those who are not interested in going through immigration like the motorcycle riders and their passengers, a guaranteed crossing without any challenge will cost between N1,000 and N5,000 depending on the bargaining power of the individual and how regular he passes through the border.
Looking at my international passport, with visa on it, I wondered why my international passport could be considered as “virgin”. However, I dismissed the story as part of the driver’s justification for charging us a rather exorbitant fare, especially since we didn’t accompany him to the immigration posts. But the explanation about the motorcycle riders and their passengers appeared very plausible, especially since we had witnessed the monetary exchange. The veracity of integration within the sub-region and the promotion of free movement of persons, goods and services is still questionable a far cry from reality. It is considered even more easier travelling to mother part of the world where the country share no diplomatic tie than any country within the sub-region.
One may argue that my incredulity at my experience at the Seme border fades to triviality considering the high volume of human traffic passing through the border, either for business or any other activity, and the fact that the corrupt practice has become part of their daily life. However, the impact of this corrupt practice on the reputation of the government and the security challenge it poses cannot be over-emphasized. If the NIS officials at the various border posts believe it is part of their responsibility to collect money from genuine travelers before stamping their passports for whatever flimsy reason, how then can the government challenge the indices from various international organizations placing Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries on earth? Has any of the government officials visited the border posts to confirm the level of corruption going on in those places? For government officials who travel regularly to other developed countries, has any immigration personnel from those developed countries demanded for financial inducement at the immigration desks? Why would NIS officials demand money from fellow Nigerians or indeed any other traveler before stamping their passports upon entry into Nigeria?
For government to truly tackle the massive corruption going on at the Nigerian land borders and reduce the present security challenge posed by Boko Haram and its widely reported foreign sympathizers, a complete overhaul of the Nigerian land border control is necessary. All activities that encourage corruption in that sector should be eliminated. The same level of professionalism exhibited in other land border areas in other developed countries should be introduced. For every act of corruption tolerated by Nigerians, our level of insecurity becomes more exacerbated. It is hoped that the Federal Government will take urgent steps to address the massive corruption and the attendant security risk posed by the corrupt practices of government officials at our land borders. WACSOF must begin to interrogate this impunity.
Salaudeen Hashim
Liason Officer
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
Nigeria Platform
Email:[email protected]
Website: www.cislacnigeria.net
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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