Traders Lose N13bn Weekly To Lolo Border Closure – Association

Association of Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (AFFPON) and other stakeholders have lamented the loss of N13  billion weekly due to the closure of the Lolo border along Maje/Illo axis in Kebbi State leading to Benin Republic.

This was disclosed by the president of the association, Miftahu Ya‘u while delivering a speech at a special press briefing in Kano, appealing to President Bola Tinubu to reopen the Lolo border with Benin Republic.

This was organised by the association due to complaints by the freight forwarders operating at the borders as well as the importers, over the federal government policy of the closure of all Nigerian/Niger borders to enforce the ECOWAS embargo on Niger Republic after military takeover.

of government in an effort to safeguard democracy and its stability in the West African region.

„It is imperative at this juncture to state that the Association of Freight Forwarding practitioners of Nigeria (AFFPON), is a law-abiding association and therefore gives 100 per cent support to the government of Nigeria over this development especially on Nigeria/Niger Republic Borders.

„However, this association has no intention to interfere with the closure of Nigeria/Niger borders but rather is focusing on the need for the government to provide an alternative route that will give room for thousands of containers trapped outside our borders to gain access into the country.

„The alternative routes are the borders linking Nigeria to Benin Republic like Lolo border along Maje/lllo Axis in Kebbi State which we learnt is also closed for operations. The border has a direct link to Benin Republic and can be utilized as an alternative route to allow thousands of containers that have been transported from Benin Republic into the country.