BY Daniel Gumm
The Federal Government’s determination to promote the development and diversification of Nigeria’s non-oil export trade, assist in promoting the development of export related industries in Nigeria and actively articulate and promote the implementation of export policies and programmes is seemingly becoming a failed project as a result of youth activity in the border.

The youths from the Seme border community under the aegis of Kweme Halenu Youths Forum, KHYF have constituted themselves into danger by their action for exports from Nigeria at the Seme border.

The forum arrests and detains truck-bearing goods meant for export from Nigeria to the ECOWAS region at will for not paying an illegal toll which the youths now levy at the border post. The toll charge by the youths ranges from  N500.00 to N1,000.00, depending on the size of each truck.

Last week, the forum detained eight Cotonou-bound trucks, each loaded with 30 tons of cement roofing sheets belonging to Nigerite Limited for a total of three days for failure to pay their illegal toll.

The forum, Vanguard investigation revealed, was made up of youths from the various communities at the border.

A youth leader, who does not want his name in  print said their action was borne out of frustration as a result of prolonged marginalisation by both the federal and state governments.

He noted that Kweme Halenu comprises of 25 various communities, namely: Pengboh, Oglogbo, Azangbemeh, Gbadogbotomeh, Aketegbo, Ashipa, Kwenwewemeh, Totha, Shito, Honvemetho, Gbegbomeh, Gbethromeh, Akpitimeh, Iwesere Topa, Age Topa, Boglo, Falola, Akorokoji, Agbojedo, Tosuvi, Fanuvi, Asakpo, Aivoji, Keta-west and Gbaji whichare served by only one secondary school.

Years of neglect

Cataloguing their long years of neglect, the youth leader lamented that the only secondary in the border community serves about 25 communities and the school is not even well equipped. He said the “communities have no potable water, as close as it is to Lagos.”

Besides, he said “there is no elctricity in any of the community as well as network of roads, yet the Federal Government has taken over our beach for  a border post.”

The youth leader claimed that he had the “figure of the volume of trade that pass through the border on a daily basis, both exports and imports,” adding that they decided to take their destiny in their hands since government has continued to neglect and marginalised their communities and the inhabitants.

He also told Vanguard that when the 10-lane express road is completed, “government will know that some people own the land,” vowing that Niger Delta “will then be a child’s play.”