Overview
There are no particular obstacles at the border, however sections of the road to Lagos are very bad with deep potholes, muddy and flooded sections and frequently, stuck and broken-down trucks, buses and cars that result in gridlock.
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
Name of Border Crossing
|
Nigeria: Seme Benin: Kreke |
Province or District |
Badagry LGA, Lagos State |
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Badagry 15 km |
Latitude |
6 22’ 55’’ N |
Longitude |
2 43’20’’ E |
Managing Authority / Agency |
Nigeria Customs Services |
Contact Person |
|
Travel Times |
|
Nearest International Airport |
Murtalla Mohamed Int’l Airport, Ikeja 33 km Truck Travel Time: subject to traffic congestion, poor road conditions and multiple check points: up to half day (5 hrs+) Car Travel time: Approximately 4 hours |
Nearest Port |
Apapa 55 km Truck Travel Time: subject to traffic congestion, poor road conditions and multiple check points: half day (6 hrs+) Car Travel time: 3 – 5 hours |
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Lagos |
Other Information
|
There are fuel stations on the route, no weigh bridges (or need for them). The road is very rough and crowded on the Nigeria side, much better condition on the Benin side. |
Hours of Operation |
|
Mondays |
24/7 |
Tuesdays |
24/7 |
Wednesdays |
24/7 |
Thursdays |
24/7 |
Fridays |
24/7 |
Saturdays |
24/7 |
Sundays |
24/7 |
National Holidays |
24/7 |
Seasonal Constraints |
During peak rainy season (June, July, August) an already difficult access road from Lagos may becomes almost impassable |
Daily Capacity
Trucks and cars use the same lane. Trucks generally park and wait in a separate layby lane until dark when Nigerian truck drivers prefer to travel. Daily average for trucks through the border is 55 trucks (50 Benin to Nigeria, 5 Nigeria to Benin). There is little formality for cars or pedestrians crossing the border and most inspections of cars entering Nigeria are carried out on the many formal and informal checkpoints present for the first 15 km on the road to Lagos.
Customs Clearance
Importation of humanitarian goods: For more information on customs in Nigeria, please see the following link: 1.3 Nigeria Customs Information
Exportation of humanitarian goods: the requirements are Packing list, Commercial Invoice, Waybill and Export Permit from Customs. Some Items may also require approval from the Presidency.
Other Relevant Information
For trucks leaving Nigeria, provided all papers are in order, waiting time is generally less than 1 hour to obtain clearance to cross the border into Benin.
For trucks entering Nigeria, Customs operate an electronic scanner that will facilitate clearance in less than an hour. In the event it is not operating manual inspections may take up to 2 hours. There is no delay on the Benin side.
While trucks attract official attention, cars and pedestrians cross the border at will with little or no attention from customs or immigration.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Nigeria Government Contact List
Photos of Lagos-Seme road: