Journal Abstract

Effective border security relies not only on robust policies but also on seamless coordination among multiple enforcement agencies. In Nigeria, the Seme and Idi-Iroko border posts, which serve as critical entry points along the Benin-Nigeria corridor, have experienced persistent challenges in inter-agency collaboration despite successive government reforms. This article presents empirical evidence from a mixed-methods study conducted between January and December 2025. Data were collected through surveys (N=245) and semi-structured interviews (N=30) with officers from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Police, and Department of State Services (DSS), as well as port users. Findings reveal five major coordination challenges: overlapping mandates without clear jurisdictional boundaries (reported by 78% of respondents), technological incompatibility between agency data systems (67%), inter-agency rivalry and mistrust (71%), inconsistent application of standard operating procedures (59%), and inadequate joint training (63%). These challenges result in delayed intelligence sharing, porous border points, and increased smuggling activities. The article concludes that legal harmonization and integrated communication architecture are urgently needed.