The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), and other critical stakeholders in the manufacturing sector have called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, reopen the nation’s land borders closed since August 20, 2019, adding that the continuous closure has serious implications on importation of raw materials for the manufacturing industries.
Dr. Ken Ukaoha, President of NANTS, who made the call during his welcome address on the implications and matters arising from the Nigeria border closure and dynamics of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, in Abuja, said the prolonged closure of Nigeria’s land borders has negative impact on the manufacturing sector.
Ukaoha, together with other stakeholders noted that Federal Government should consider setting up an inter-ministerial committee composed of public and private sector to inspect the goods at the borders with a view to taking accurate documentations ascertaining ownership and taking actions towards effective handover to their owners.
As part of the recommendations of stakeholders, “Such committee should consider any available means of compensation for genuine traders (importers & exporters), whose goods have been trapped at various borders courtesy of the closure.
These recommendations are made towards ensuring that genuine traders are not sanctioned or punished alongside smugglers and other criminal actors who evade duty/ tariff payments.
“Government of Nigeria should come up with a full documentation of lost and benefits of border closure and lessons learnt in the exercise of border management and enforcement of corridor rules for future reference purpose
“Government of Nigeria must seek ways of securing commitments from ECOWAS on the strict implementation of community laws particularly with regards to the ETLS, CET and other trade and economic related laws and policies with faster regional integrations.”
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), while speaking, noted that the border closure has some benefits, as local production of goods has witnessed a boost particularly in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy.
Yusuf, however, said agricultural market has been greatly affected due to the closure, adding that poor border management and policing have been compromised by those saddled with the responsibility.
Therefore, he called for the review of import tariffs which affect local industries, adding that Nigeria’s exchange rate should be marketable.
He also called on government to build a competitive economy through infrastructural development as well as ensure effective management of the nation’s land borders with credible personnel from relevant agencies of government.
The President of NANTS explained that the meeting was convened “to bring together the private sector, relevant civil society organisations as well as key public sector actors related to trade and competitiveness (particularly, the trade and border enforcement agencies) and trade policy makers with a view to examining the challenges, consequences, impact and matters arising from the border closure.
