Today, Thursday, 12^th May, 2022, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Benin has further strengthen their regional cooperation by signing a Bilateral Agreement for the operationalization of Seme-krake Joint Border Post. The signing ceremony which was held on Thursday, 12^th May, 2022, in Cotonou, were done by the Honourable Ministers in charge of Transport facilitation, Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, Honourable Minister of State (Transportation), Federal Republic of Nigeria and her counterpart, Mr. Romuald WADAGNI, Honourable Senior Minister of Economy and Finance, Republic of Benin. The ceremony ended with the release of a communique outlining the commitments of both countries towards the implementation of the Agreement which is aimed at promoting the movement of people, Goods and enhanced revenue collection for both countries.

The signing ceremony which was held in the presence of ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Pathe Gueye, and other dignitaries is an important step for the smooth operationalization of Seme-krake Joint Border Post constructed and opened for operation in 2018. The Bilateral Agreement outlined the basic information and requirements expected for the smooth functioning of border officials/agencies from both countries towards facilitation of trucks, light vehicles and pedestrians into and out of the Joint Border Post.

The Bilateral Agreement was prepared after painstaking preparation and review of the document by Experts and stakeholders from Ministries, agencies, border agencies and operators on 11^th – 12^th May, 2022. The stakeholders also prepared, reviewed and presented the major challenges effecting the smooth operationalization Joint Border Post to the Honourable Ministers, which they affirmed and commit to address. Both countries affirmed to follow up the implementation of the Bilateral Agreement.