Oramalugo Urges Agencies to Prioritise African Consciousness, Professional Excellence Along Abidjan-Lagos Trade Corridor
Nifemi Coker
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Seme/Krake Area Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, has urged sister agencies to uphold African consciousness and professionalism in their interactions with commuters and traders along the Abidjan-Lagos trade corridor.
Comptroller Oramalugo made these remarks on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, during a courtesy visit of journalists to the Command.
He emphasized that as representatives of the nation, the conduct of security officials along the corridor reflects the image of Nigeria to other nationals who use the route. As such, each officer must take on the role of an ambassador and leave a positive impression of Nigeria on travelers.
“This is the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, an international gateway to French-speaking countries. Whatever you do on this road tells the story of Nigeria. I always remind my officers: the way you speak to passengers and visitors matters. It tells our story. And I believe we are making progress,” he said.
“I tell my officers to see themselves as economic managers. Be well-informed. And one can only be well-informed by increasing his or her capacity. That is a personal decision everyone must make.”
Oramalugo added that embracing African consciousness and leveraging the opportunities provided by the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) could lead to greater economic success across the continent.
Addressing the misunderstanding and misuse of the ETLS by some traders, he clarified: “ETLS is meant for goods manufactured within the West African region to encourage local production. The challenge we face is that people import goods into Benin and still try to bring them in under ETLS. I challenge them because that is not what the treaty permits.”
He also called on all agencies to uphold professionalism and excellence in executing their statutory roles, while adhering to the nation’s laws.
The CAC stressed that strict enforcement of laws against the smuggling of prohibited items such as fake, expired, and harmful pharmaceuticals, serves to protect lives and families.
Citing the dangers of counterfeit drugs, Comptroller Oramalugo recalled: “In 1989, 152 children died in Kano due to paracetamol containing ethylene glycol. In 2022, 66 people died in Gambia from the same issue. In 1990, at the University of Jordan, 67 children died for the same reason. I came into service with that historical knowledge.
Oramalugo expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his guidance and leadership.
He noted that the CG’s mentorship has inspired excellence across the Service and continues to nurture the potential of every officer.
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