By Akpan David, Calabar
A top clergyman and chairman of Association of Brotherhood Academic Scholars (ABAS) visitations committee, Archbishop Emmanuel Ekuri has canvassed for stiff punitive measures against and dismissals of extortionate border officials.
He alleges that there are wanton extortions which are ongoing at the various borders in West Africa.
Speaking in Calabar on his return from Ghana where he and his contingent travelled by road for the just-concluded interfaith workshop with the theme Power of love in a fractured world organised by his association, Ekuri also called for revisit and swift implementation of the ECOWAS single currency.
He said the currency is now overdue, noting that the ECOWAS heads of state have been deliberating on it for quite a while now.
He said the common currency will ease movement and business transactions amongst the different nationals in the subregion.
He lamented massive extortions at the various borders by immigration, Customs, NDLEA, Police officials, calling on the authorities to display all charges publicly to enable unsuspecting transborder travellers know what are supposed to pay for.
“A common currency for the ECOWAS subregion is long overdue. This is because monetary union for the region remains an aspiration with myriad potential benefits.
“An ECOWAS currency union could improve trade and investment flows in the region, bring added discipline to the macroeconomic and structural policies of member countries, and enhance stability against external shocks.
“A single currency will enhance price transparency and facilitates comparison and stable prices in the subregion”, he explained.
“The immigration of different national units should sack or summarily dismiss erring officers. Also official rates of custom duties, charges and taxes should be publicly displayed so that travellers can insist on paying only the approved rates.”
Talking about his unpalatable experience in the hands of Immigration, Police, Customs, NDLEA and so-called agents, Ekuri said, “I experienced serious extortion in the hands of some of the immigration officials at West Coast border with other forms of corrupt practices while travelling outside and returning into the country.
“When I travelled across the West Coast border recently, I got so worried over the situation of what I saw that if not for the spiritual essence of our mission of saving souls as missionaries, I would have stopped the journey halfway and turned back due to frustration.
“What I witnessed was appalling, grossly unbecoming and unacceptable. The massive extortions of helpless travelers, harassments, assaults and other forms of corrupt practices by uniformed personnel working at the border is indescribable.”
He said before they could successfully cross the borders, they spent whooping sums far greater than what they had envisaged, adding that costs of stamping their passports and bribery of officers were very high.
According to him, passport holders now pay more for stamping of passport which cost goes above 10, 000 CFA while those with ID cards pay lesser, saying it is really outrageous.
He warned that anyone travelling through the borders should carry extra cash because the charges by the immigration officers masquerading under the guise of agents are arbitrary and quite exorbitant.
“All intending travellers should be wary of unscrupulous people at the borders and other forms of security risks, which are on the increase.
“You could be a target for crime, including kidnapping and robbery insatiable extortions.
“Be wary of people hovering around you trying to help you. Make sure you do your transactions with legitimate border staff”.
