By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Residents of Imeko, a border community in Ogun State, have called on the Federal Government to establish a training institution for the Nigeria Customs Service in the town, citing its historical significance as a frontier settlement and its strategic location along Nigeria’s international border.

The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, made the call at a press conference held in Imeko to herald the 2026 annual Imeko Festival, also known as the Imeko Agbinrekoti Festival.

The monarch said establishing a Customs or Immigration training school in Imeko would help strengthen the town’s role in border administration while also accelerating development in the area.

He said, “I think the government should consider establishing a training school for either the Customs Service or Immigration Service here.

“Everything about the frontier in Nigeria started here. That is why we are pursuing a school and institution like the National Institute for Border Studies, which is there to assist Nigeria.”

Oba Olanite also disclosed that the community was prepared to support the establishment of a Federal institution in the town by providing land and other necessary assistance.

The monarch, however, expressed concern over the educational challenges that had confronted the border community over the years, particularly the shortage of teachers and inadequate infrastructure.

He recalled the education summit organised by the administration of former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, where the poor state of education in Imeko was highlighted.

According to him, the community was described at the summit as being “at the bottom of the ladder” in terms of educational development.

He said the situation had, at various times, become so critical that some schools were being run by only a few teachers, who had to perform multiple administrative and teaching responsibilities.

“Thank God for the present administration. When we were complaining about teachers, some schools had only two teachers on their staff. The principal, vice-principal and teachers for virtually all the subjects were being handled by just two people.

“It was when we began to speak out that, thank God, the Ogun State Government, under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, ensured that teachers were sent here,” he said.

Oba Olanite commended the Ogun State government for responding to the community’s concerns through the deployment of additional teachers, but stressed that sustained intervention was required to bridge the development gap.

He appealed to the Federal and state governments to increase investment in education, healthcare, roads and other critical infrastructure in Imeko.

The monarch also linked the development challenges facing the community to the broader needs of Nigeria’s border settlements, arguing that sustained attention to such communities was important to national development and security.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Anthony Asiwaju urged governments at all levels to pay greater attention to communities located along Nigeria’s international borders, particularly in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and economic development.

Asiwaju also called on the Border Communities Development Agency, (BCDA), to increase its interventions in Imeko, saying residents were yet to sufficiently feel the impact of the agency established to promote development in border communities.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, “Preserving Our Heritage: Fostering Love, Unity and an Empowered Future,” he said Imeko’s historical role in frontier administration should be reflected in the level of government investment in the town.

Meanwhile, a former member of the House of Representatives for Imeko-Afon/Yewa North Federal Constituency, Dr Dele Ogunsiji, commended Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola for sponsoring a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Frontier and Border Studies in Imeko.

Ogunsiji appealed to the National Assembly and the Federal Government to support the proposed institution, saying it could contribute to education and capacity development in the border region.

He said education remained the foundation of sustainable development, stressing that the challenges confronting Imeko could not be effectively addressed without deliberate investment in human capital.

The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the Agbinrekoti Festival, Otunba Anthony Adewale Ajibode, said the annual celebration was designed to bring together residents, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to celebrate Imeko’s cultural heritage and discuss its development.

Ajibode, who was represented by the Secretary of the planning committee, Dr Tunde Aninkan, said the festival provided an opportunity to showcase the town’s cultural heritage while drawing government attention to its developmental challenges.

He urged the Federal and Ogun State governments to sustain interventions in education and expand investments in infrastructure, healthcare, security and economic opportunities for residents.

According to him, the development of Imeko would not only benefit its residents but also serve Nigeria’s wider security and economic interests, given the town’s strategic location along the country’s international frontier.

The press conference was attended by community leaders and prominent indigenes, including Chief Mary Ogunjobi, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ogun State, among others.