By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukeu, Warri
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have expressed outrage over the abandonment of key infrastructure projects at the Nigeria Customs Service Seme Border Area Command, threatening to sanction contractors who have failed to deliver on their mandates, some of which date back over two decades.
During an oversight visit to the command on Monday, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Hon. Leke Abejide, said the committee would no longer tolerate the neglect of strategic government projects, especially in a command that oversees Nigeria’s busiest land border and a vital revenue source.
“The situation we’ve seen here is deeply troubling,” Abejide said. “Projects critical to national security, border management, and economic efficiency have been left to rot, some since 1999. This is unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
The outcry followed a presentation by the Controller of the Seme Area Command, Comptroller Benedict Oramalugo, who detailed the long list of incomplete and abandoned structures hampering the command’s operations. He cited, among others, the abandoned construction of 30-man and 32-man rank and file quarters in Badagry and Seme, as well as two 16-man facilities at Seme-Badagry.
According to Oramalugo, some contractors halted work due to unapproved variations, while others completely ignored contract specifications or vanished after collecting mobilisation fees.
“These abandoned projects are affecting our functionality,” he said. “They are crucial for the welfare and accommodation of officers, which in turn impacts productivity and border control.”
Hon. Abejide assured that the House would investigate each case and ensure erring contractors are penalised.
“We’ll get full details—contract sums, names of contractors, and timelines. If we find deliberate sabotage or negligence, those involved will face serious consequences. This can’t continue,” he said.
The committee’s intervention raises hope for renewed action on infrastructure development at the border, which plays a key role in trade facilitation between Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries.