Rt. Rev. Babatunde Adeyemi, the Bishop of the Diocese of Anglican Communion, Cathedral Church of St. Thomas, Badagry, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure thorough research before implementing economic policies.
Addressing the second session of the Seventh Synod of the Diocese of Badagry on Saturday, Bishop Adeyemi expressed concerns over the current economic policies, describing them as tough.
“We want a better Nigeria and we know that he did well in Lagos, and we know he can do well in Nigeria.
“But, he should watch those who are working with him and then put things in proper perspective. The President should also not forget the restructuring of the country, each region to develop at its own pace,” he said.
Bishop Adeyemi also urged the federal government to address the issue of multiple checkpoints along the Agbara-Badagry expressway.
He noted that the checkpoints, manned by various security agencies, were creating problems rather than enhancing security.
“Many security agencies at different checkpoints are even contributing to the problem of the country. In as much as we want the environment to be secure, this is not how to secure it.
“We want to revive the economy of Badagry and Nigeria; how do we do this with many checkpoints? It is a border area; the security agencies should maintain the former three checkpoints, which are in Agbara, Gbaji, and Seme,” he stated.
The bishop highlighted that the presence of multiple agencies such as the police, Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Army at various checkpoints was unnecessary.
He called for the reduction of the checkpoints to streamline security and facilitate economic activities.
On his part, Babatunde Hunpe, the immediate past lawmaker who represented Badagry in the House of Representatives, echoed the bishop’s concerns.
He praised the bishop for drawing government attention to the issues affecting Badagry and urged the government to reduce or remove the excessive checkpoints.
“The issue of multiple checkpoints has been an issue for long and with the bishop talking about it today, I believe the government that is concerned will reduce, if not remove it completely.
“My candid advice is that some of these agencies should be merged and made to stay at few points instead of spreading to many points,” Hunpe said.
Dr. Olalekan Sewedo, the chief of staff to Olusegun Onilude, the chairman of Badagry Local Government, also spoke on the issue, noting that the multiple checkpoints significantly slowed down travel time from Agbara to Seme.
“We have been engaging the Divisional Police Officer in Badagry only to find out that most checkpoints in Badagry have their authorities from places beyond the State Commissioner of Police, not to talk of the DPO of Badagry Police Station.
“You will find IG Special Squads, Commissioner Unit, I think that is where the problems of the checkpoints come in, and because of the peculiarities of Badagry being a border community. We will continue to engage to see what we can do,” Sewedo explained.
