Northern traders have lamented the loss of about N13 billion since the closure of the Nigerian border with Niger Republic.
President Bola Tinubu, on August 4, 2023, ordered the closure of all borders with the neighbouring country following the sanction imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Sequel to the president’s order, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has closed the borders of Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto and Maigatari in Jigawa.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, the Chairman of Arewa Economic Forum, Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, said the closing of the borders is making it unbearable for traders to get their goods to the country.
Dandakata stated that the consequences of the border closure have been huge, saying that Northern traders lost N13 billion since the closure of the Nigeran borders.
Most of the losses are said to be perishable food items left to rot in the trailers they are loaded in.
He, therefore, advised the Nigerian government to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi to allow traders to bring goods to the country.
He said: “Since the order by the President to close all the borders with Niger Republic following the announcement of the coup, the consequences have been huge. Northern traders lost N13bn weekly.
“Trade between Niger and Nigeria is usually informal, especially in perishable goods, and only last year alone, it is estimated at about N177bn in goods and services like livestock and food items.
“Therefore, further closure of the border will be detrimental to the huge trade going on between these two countries.
“We hereby appeal to President Tinubu to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi state to enable traders to bring in their goods into the country and empower customs to collect import duty thereafter.”
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Niger: Northern Traders Lament N13 Billion Loss Due to Border Closure