Abuja - Nigeria — Security agents have been urged to share their experiences in order to imbibe best practices that will better equip them to contribute to the elimination of impediments to the free movement of persons and goods along the Lagos-Seme road linking Nigeria with neighbouring Benin Republic.
Participants at a week-long sensitization workshop for Nigerian security operatives on the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol of Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services which ended on Saturday, 21st May 2011, also stressed the need for improved coordination among security personnel deployed at the borders in order to improve their effectiveness and engender cohesion. They further urged the ECOWAS Commission to embrace strategic promotional techniques in its efforts to eliminate the hindrances on the free movement of persons along this route.
Furthermore, they recommended other sensitization measures in other to create awareness and enhance compliance such as the use of interactive electronic bulletin billboards at strategic locations along this route, targeted messages on radio and television to educate and inform the populace on the rights of entry, residence, establishment and access to the ECOWAS Member States for community citizens.
In a message to the opening of the workshop, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho reiterated the Commission's commitment to the creation of an environment that would promote the unhindered movement of Community citizens as intended by the Protocol. The President who was represented by the Principal Programme Officer in the Directorate of Free Movement and Tourism, Mr Tony Elumelu acknowledged that considerable progress has been recorded in the implementation of the Protocol, including the introduction of the ECOWAS Passport and the protection of the citizen's right of establishment. Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the meeting, retired Air-Vice Marshall Terry Okorodudu lamented that citizens were still encountering impediments while engaged in intra-Community travel, mostly at the borders and urged stakeholders to be more responsive to the requirements of the Protocol.
The Comptroller of Nigeria's Immigration Service made a presentation in which he highlighted the need for collaborative training with security agencies from Member States to facilitate synergy and sharing of best practices. He contended that this would l consequently enhance intra regional migration, adding that there was the need to improve the welfare of operatives at the borders while providing appropriate infrastructure that will enhance their performance.
Participants included officials of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Police Force, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa, ELGYN International Services, Security Watch Africa and Patriotic Citizens Initiative.
