NIGERIA: TRUE STORY ON CLOSURE OF BORDER

Written by: Olayemi

The closure of Nigeria’s borders with Benin Republic, at Seme and Idi-iroko, has generated so much commentaries from Nigerians. For clarity, let me State here that Nigeria did not close the border of Benin Republic with Nigeria,she closed her own borders.



This means that the border of Benin Republic is still open & operational.

The decision to close or open borders, is one in which countries make in pursuit of strategic national interests. Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, has d power to decide which border she should close or open

in protecting her national interest irrespective of any agreement, protocol,or existing convention. And it does not matter even if d border is the most economically benefiting to the government,or it is damaging to the economy of another country.

The overriding consideration is d
country’s Strategic National Interests, which maybe Security, economic, political, and social.

For so long, Nigeria has been at d receiving end of the deliberate and reckless acts of sabotage from d government & people of Benin Republic. The Nigerian Government has consistently

expressed her disappointment with the neglect or deliberate refusal of the authorities in Benin Republic to stop smuggling of goods into the country,and rein in other sharp practices leading to the loss of huge revenues to the country.

One way in which Nigeria has been denied

revenue due to her is in transshipment. Transshipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, then to another destination-final destination, where the duties are paid. Transshipment can happen for the following reasons:

1. The need to change the means of transport during the journey( e.g., from ship transport to road transport),also known as transloading.
2. The need to combine small shipments into a large shipment( consolidation),or divide a large shipment into smaller ones(deconsolidation).

Transshipment is legal and an everyday part of world trade. However, it can also be a method used to disguise criminal intent such as smuggling, import of grey goods and other illegal activities, as it has been the case with Benin Republic. Goods transshipped to Cotonou,

are often off-loaded there with lower duties paid( an illegality),and the goods are smuggled into Nigeria through the border at huge loss to the Nigerian economy.

There is also the issue of the continued sabotage of the economic national priorities or purposes of Nigeria by the

in the government priority,and in pursuit of her own national interests, has continued to allow rice flow into her country,and will not do anything to prevent smuggling of it into Nigeria.

What about importation of illegal arms & ammunition? Vehicles that are flown through bush

of certain goods, and banned the importation of others. One of such item is rice-foreign rice. The government has sanctioned the import of foreign rice into d country, in her quest to encourage local production and consumption. But the government in Benin Republic does not share

government in Benin Republic. Nigeria, has prioritized self-sufficiency in food production under d current administration. The government believes that a nation that cannot feed her citizens, is not truly independent. The govt, has therefore imposed sanctions on d importation

routes into the country without payment of import duties? And the government is accused of being dictatorial because operatives of the NCS are impounding them in car dealerships, roads and hotels? These are some few reasons why the government decided to close the borders.

As expected, the government in Benin Republic is crying out loud and appealing to the Nigerian Government to reconsider her decision and reopen the borders, without serious undertaking or firm promise to act to stop the illegal activities. The Nigerian Government is unwilling

to do so because of the gains it is making as a result of d closure of d borders. The government has observed a significant increase in payment of import duties. According the CG of Customs, Hammed Ali, the country is collecting about N5B daily. We have also noticed a significant

decrease in fuel consumption in Nigeria. What this means is that before d closure of the borders,fuel smuggling was a big business. Nigeria, was simply subsidizing importation of fuel for some scrupulous people to snuggle to Benin Republic for profit.

What is unexpected, however is how some Nigerians have,and are reacting to the closure of the borders. They have accused the government of targeting the business activities of some people from a section of the country. Other accusations are that the government is violating the terms of AFCFTA, to which

she is a signatory,and impeding the activities of manufacturing entities in Nigeria. But these accusations, are a bunch of malarkey.
AFCFTA, covers legitimate economic activities amongst African countries, not smuggling and other illegal activities. Also, land transportation

Nigerians who are offended by the action of the government should show understanding,and support the government, or relocate to Benin Republic.
©Kurtis Adigba

of goods through the borders, is not the only means of moving goods to Benin Republic.

The Nigerian Government should keep the borders closed until the Government in Benin Republic is ready to abide by the terms of engagement and act in a responsible manner.



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