Abuja — Ministers of security of ECOWAS states, at the weekend, urged governments of member states to tackle corrupt practices involving security operatives at the border crossings and international highways stressing that such nefarious acts are the main impediments to free movements of persons and goods.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja and read by Nigeria's Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Lame, the ministers said: "That there are excessive acts of corruption involving security agencies along international highways and border crossings of member states which impede the free movement of goods and persons."

"That security services should exercise discipline and professionalism when carrying out their operations in order to minimize acts and incidents of corruption which have negative effects on free movement.

"In this respect, security services of member states should form joint teams (Police, Customs, Immigration services and other law enforcement agencies) to prevent extortion and other corrupt practices at the borders and along the international highways connecting border states. Such acts should be reported to appropriate national authorities for action."

Continuing the ministers said, "Member states where the ECOWAS passport is not yet in circulation, namely, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Mali and Sierra Leone, should do so as soon as possible. ECOWAS commission should, meanwhile, intensify efforts to fast track the adoption of the community passport by such member states."

"That ECOWAS implements a pilot project on modernization and interconnectivity at the border posts on the Nigeria-Benin-Togo-Ghana-Coted'Ivoire axis and that member states abolish residence permits in implementation of decisions of the heads of states and government."