Hardship: Stakeholders Seek Reopening Of Borders With Niger

The Association of Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (AFFPON) has renewed its call on President Bola Tinubu to reopen the Lolo border with Benin Republic, located at Illo/Maje axis of Kebbi State, to ease the economic hardship in the immediate environment.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano yesterday by the national president of the association, Miftahu Ya’u.

LEADERSHIP reports that the economy of the north and the country at large is affected by the closure of Nigeria-Niger borders due to diplomatic tussle between Nigeria and Niger following a military coup that ousted a democratically affected regime in 2023.

The group, however, reaffirmed its support for the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian government as well, but called for a solution to the problem soon due to the effect of the closure of the borders on the economy of northern Nigeria and the country at large.

Meanwhile, there are thousands of containers carrying genuine and dutiable items transported from the Benin Republic left on very long queues covering several kilometres.

The situation has led to loss of over N13 billion by importers and exporters, as well as the Nigerian government due to the border closure.

There are also perishable goods and huge demurrage accruing, all as a result of the closure of the border.

The body therefore called on President Tinubu to act swiftly by reopening the Lolo border as an optional route to allow the passage of those items between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

The group also dismissed the negative impression being circulated on social media that by the border closure the government is deliberately nursing the agenda of imposing economic hardship on northern Nigeria.

“As stakeholders, we condemn and dismiss this rumour as a mere campaign of calumny and calculated effort by mischief makers who want to distract and drag in the mud efforts by President Tinubu-led government towards finding effective solutions to myriads of socioeconomic challenges facing the country.

“Finally, the opening of the Lolo border will impact positively on the businesses of all stakeholders involved, government inclusive, and this will make it easy for both importers, exporters, freight forwarders and by extension traders from the affected areas continue to be sharers of palliatives rather than becoming receivers of government palliatives.

“We hope this appeal to reopen Lolo border, Kebbi State by the federal government will be considered soon,” the association said.