The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, has said that all road blocks that constituted barriers to free transit along the Badagy-Seme Expressway will be removed to facilitate trade and free movement between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
Amaechi said this after inspecting the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
A Special Assistant to Amaechi, Israel Ibeleme, said in statement on Thursday that the inspection took place before a high level meeting between the minister and his Benin Republic counterpart.
The Seme-Krake joint border post was set up by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union to facilitate trans-border trade between Nigeria and its small neighbor.
“The Republic of Benin and Federal Republic of Nigeria as stipulated by the ECOWAS Act, have the responsibility of overseeing the general administration of the joint border post, upon the handing over of the facility to the two countries,” Ibeleme said.
He said both countries were expected to ensure the maintenance of the facility, its operations and the provision of operational and administrative equipment.
“The Federal Ministry of Transportation is Nigeria’s Focal point and doubles as the Chair of the Joint Border Post Management Committee in line with the Act setting up the JBP,” he said.
Amaechi was quoted as saying that the Federal Ministry of Transportation will fulfill its obligation with regards to maintenance of the facility.
According to the ministerial aide, operations at the JBP will be carried out by selected border agencies of Nigeria and Benin Republic that will be working with other sub-committees.
