The impact of the protracted closure of Nigeria’s land borders have started taking its toll on neighbouring countries even as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has implored the Nigerian government to reopen the borders. According to reports, even countries as far flung as Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are feeling the impact as most of the trans- West African trade passes through the Lagos-Dakar Corridor which the unanimous border closure by Nigeria has put to a stop.
Over the weekend, business owners and farmers in Cotonou Benin Republic have protested to the Beninese government to step into the matter and have a round table discussion with Nigeria on ways to address the concerns that led to the border closure. Reports reaching our Correspondent show that most businesses that depend on cross border trade are shutting down and the worst hit are farmers of perishable products who complain that some of the products that are already in their harvesting season are wasting away because there is no market to push them to. A Farmer who spoke with our Correspondent said that this development means that Nigeria is choked off from supplies until the next harvest by local farmers. Most of the products affected are Tomatoes, Pineapples, Watermelons among others as the Farmer complain that the farm produce are wasting in the fields because customers who normally come from Nigeria to buy them cannot do so as a result of the closure.
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Equally affected in Benin Republic is transportation as the routes for cheap smuggled fuel from Nigeria has been cut off. Those who wholly depend on these products for survival are going through difficult times, says Honore Sukku, a business man based in Cotonou. Mr. Sukku said that he has never experienced such a rough patch in living memory as the closure affects virtually every facet of the Beninese economy. He said that even cheap labourers from Benin who frequent Nigeria for various jobs ranging from plumbing, tiling, mason and carpentry. He concluded by warning that if both governments fail to sort out the problems as soon as possible, the impact would be much dire for both countries.
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The Nigerian authorities insist that until the Beninese government help in curbing cross border smuggling into Nigeria, the border will remain shut. Sources from the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) said that with the closure of the borders, there has been a drastic reduction in the quantity of petroleum products the country imports. Also agriculture sources say that more Nigerians now eat Rice grown in the country instead of foreign grown Rice. According to official figures, Nigeria has been ramping up rice production, with local output rising by 60% since 2013. But at 4.8 million tons last year, local rice production was still not enough for the 190 million Nigerians.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.