The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, has called on the Federal Government to establish a training school for the Nigeria Customs Service in Imeko, a border town in Ogun State. He cited the town's historical significance as a frontier community and the need to accelerate development in the area. Olanite made the appeal at a briefing organised as part of activities marking the 2026 Imeko Day and annual festival.
Olanite also urged the state and Federal governments to intensify development of border communities, saying it would accelerate their socio-economic development and improve residents' standard of living. The monarch noted that Imeko had played an important role in Nigeria's border administration since the colonial era. He argued that its historical and geographical significance made it suitable for a specialised training institution.
The event, held at the Imeko Conference Hall, brought together community leaders and prominent indigenes. They raised concerns over educational challenges confronting residents of the border community. Community leaders commended the Ogun State Government for addressing the shortage of teachers in schools across the area. Olanite recalled an education summit organised by former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun's administration, which highlighted the poor state of education in Imeko.
Olanite expressed gratitude to the present administration under Prince Dapo Abiodun for sending teachers to the area. He noted that sustained government attention to educational needs was crucial. However, he stressed that more needed to be done to bridge the development gap. The monarch appealed to the Federal and Ogun State governments to invest in education, healthcare, roads, and other critical infrastructure in Imeko.
Professor Anthony Asiwaju, former Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lagos, appealed to governments to pay greater attention to communities along Nigeria's international borders. He emphasised education, security, economic development, and infrastructure. Asiwaju called on the Border Communities Development Agency to increase its interventions in Imeko, saying residents had not sufficiently felt the agency's impact.
Dr Dele Ogunsiji, former House of Representatives member for Imeko and Yewa North Federal Constituency, commended Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola for sponsoring a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Frontier and Border Studies in Imeko. Ogunsiji appealed to the National Assembly and the Federal Government to support the initiative, expressing hope that it would strengthen education and capacity development in the border region.
The community is willing to support the establishment of a Federal institution in the town by providing land and other necessary assistance. The Imeko Agbinrekoti Festival, with the theme "Preserving Our Heritage: Fostering Love, Unity and an Empowered Future," highlighted Imeko's historical role in frontier administration. Stakeholders expect governments to reflect this significance in their investment in the town.
Key points
- Ogun monarch seeks development of border communities and establishment of a customs training school in Imeko.
