Why Customs officers on roads far from the borders?

I recently made a trip to Aramoko Ekiti from Ibadan for the burial of my uncle and mentor, Sir Pius Idowu Awe, KSM. During the trip, I noticed the massive presence of policemen along the route from Oyo to Osun down to Ekiti State. We are grateful for the sacrifice of these men and women, in stormy and bright weathers.

However, all the departments of security services keep you on queues, making your journey long and tedious, in between Ita-Awure and Ita-Ido: Road Safety, Traffic Police in black and white helmets, Mobile Police, the Nigerian Army, the Civil Defence and, wait for it, Customs Officers! Efon and Ekiti West LGs are nowhere near any borders. Why customs?

The massive presence of all these may be necessary to chase away kidnappers, ransom seekers, ritualists and the menacing herdsmen that make road transportation a nightmare. But, I think there is certainly a colossal waste of human and financial resources, keeping this array of officers concentrated in a location that is less than 500 metres long.

And, most importantly, the usual ritual of checking “papers” for illegal “toll gate” collections were on full display.

Those in charge should spread out these officers and send Customs officers back to the borders, in line with the dictates of the Constitution which limits them to 40 kilometres from the borders.

Banji Ogundele,

Ibadan.

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