Federal vs state powers: Why Seme border wasn’t closed for Lagos LG poll

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Seme Border Command, has clarified why it did not close the border during the recently conducted Lagos State local government elections.

Comptroller Abdullahi Adamu, head of the Seme Border operations, explained that the command did not receive any official instruction from either the Lagos State Government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to shut down the border for the elections.

“We have not received any official communication from any competent authority instructing us to close the border in connection with the Lagos council elections,” Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday. “The closing of an international border is a federal matter, not something that can be decided by the state.”

He emphasized that Seme is an international border post under the exclusive legislative list of the Nigerian Constitution, which means only the federal government has the power to order a closure.

“There is no directive on movement restrictions till 3:00 p.m., which we sometimes see during elections. As a result, the border remains fully operational,” he said.

However, in the spirit of election day security, immigration officers are advising foreigners arriving at the Seme Border to temporarily remain at the border premises—even after their passports are stamped—until after 3:00 p.m.

“This is not a detention or denial of entry,” Adamu clarified. “It is simply a security-conscious advisory. We’re encouraging people to wait and avoid unnecessary movement until voting hours are over.”

He added that the command is fully prepared to enforce any restriction or closure should a federal directive be issued.

The clarification follows concerns about possible foreign interference or unauthorized movement during the election period. No major incidents have been reported at the border.

The Lagos local government elections are seen as a crucial step in strengthening grassroots democracy, and the stance of federal agencies like the NIS underscores the complex relationship between federal authority and state-level governance in Nigeria.