The Inter-Border Forum has treated security operatives and other agencies working within the Idiroko/Igolo border, Ogun State to a togetherness dinner. The event was held on Wednesday January 16, at the Rep.Benin Customs Officer's Mess in Igolo.
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| Gen.Sec Inter-Border Forum, Dr.Bonny A. Botoku, Rep.Nigerian Plant Quarantine, Idiroko Border, Customs Comptroller Ogun State Area Command, Michael Agbara, Mayor Ifoyin Commune, Dr.Andre Zannu,NDLEA Commander, NDLEA Idiroko Special Area command , Mrs Archie Abia Ibinabo, Dep. Comptroller Immigration, Idiroko border, OC Nigeria Port Health, Mr.Niyi Ogungbayi, Commandant VIO, Idiroko border cutting the togetherness care during the Inter-Border Forum Togetherness held at Igolo Customs Officer Mess on Wednesday. |
The Togetherness Dinner for Borderline security officers and staff of agencies according to Dr.Bonny A. Botoku, Secretary General of the Inter-Border Forum, is an annual dinner initiated as part of efforts to strengthen borderline surveillance operations between operatives from Nigeria and Rep.Benin.
He said, “ The togetherness dinner is an opportunity for the officers to unwind, interact and strategize together for the new year in order to reduce work-related challenges within the Nigeria/Rep.Benin borderline communities.
“The advocacy of the forum is to continuously engage the agencies and paramilitary, in order to promote peace and security within the borderline communities. Culture is the only tool that can be used to promote peace and security especially amongst the citizens of the two neighbouring countries,” the Forum's Sec.Gen said.
Dr.Botoku however charged the governments of Nigeria and Rep.Benin to take advantage of the gains of the Forum as an opportunity to optimise the trade benefits between the two countries.
He also called for collaborative efforts amongst the operatives in order to ensure that citizens of the two countries overcome the artificial borders established by the colonial leaders.
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| L-R S.O Border Patrol Idiroko, Commandant VIO Idiroko, Engr.Adebiyi Abiola, Dep.Comptroller Immigration, Umar Mohammed, NDLEA Commander, NDLEA Idiroko special Area command, Mrs Archie Abia Ibinabo, Secretary General Inter-Border Forum, Dr. Bonny A.Botoku, Mayor Ifoyin Commune, Rep.Benin, Dr. Andre Zannu, Commandant FRSC, Mr.Farinloye, Customs Comptroller Ogun State Area Command, Michael Agbara, Customs Area Controller Igolo, Rep. Benin, Cmdt. M'po Isidore, Cabinet Director Ifoyin Commune, Pierre Kotin, Assistant Comptroller Nigeria Plant Quarantine , Enforcement Officer Customs Igolo. Rep Benin, Lt. Toglobese, Rep. Nigeria Border Patrol at the Inter- Border Forum Togetherness held at Igolo Customs Officer's Mess, Rep. Benin, on Wednesday |
In his address at the dinner, Customs Area Controller Igolo, Rep. Benin, Cmdt. M'po Isidore, who was the Chief Host of the event , expressed his delight at the friendly gesture of his counterpart from Nigeria, which according to him, has made his work easy in the border.
Cmdt. Isidore however appealed for understanding between the security officers and staff of agencies within the Nigerian/Rep.Benin border in order to reduce operational havoc.
Corroborating Isidore’s statement, Customs Comptroller Ogun State Area Command, Michael Agbara, disclosed that Idiroko/Igolo border has emerged as the outstanding and peaceful border in Nigeria and particularly the West African subregion because of the coordination and understanding between officers operating within the borderline.
He also noted that trade and business activities amongst the two countries can be effectively facilitated, if the agencies and security officers commune together regularly. He noted that such opportunity would impact positively on the performances of paramilitaries and agencies working at the border.
Mayor Ifoyin Commune, Rep.Benin, Dr. Andre Zannu and NDLEA Commander, NDLEA Idiroko special Area command, Mrs Archie Abia Ibinabo, in their remarks during the dinner, bemoaned the artificial borders created amongst the citizens of the two countries, whom according to them share so many things in common.
The NDLEA boss particularly emphasized that the peace and security enjoyed between the two countries can be maintain if citizens avoid drug abuse and shuns drug trade. She revealed that illicit drug activities are major cause of crisis in the West African subregion.
The Togetherness dinner however featured presentation of goodwill messages by heads of security organisations and agencies operating within the borderline communities.
Participants present at the dinner include, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Nigeria Plant Quarantine , Nigeria Border Patrol, NAFDAC, NDLEA, VIO, Nigeria Port Health Service, Directorate of Military Intelligent (DMI), Cargo Agents/ Freight Forwarders and their counterparts from Rep.Benin.
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