Tag: border closure

1Sep By dthataNo Comments

Sport

European Super Cup: UEFA In Talks With Hungary Following Border Closure

UEFA says it is discussing entry requirements for this month’s European Super Cup match in Budapest with the Hungarian government. This has come in the wake of the decision to close the country’s borders to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. European champions Bayern Munich and Europa League winners Sevilla are due to meet in Budapest on Sept. 24 in the 2020 European Super Cup. It is also a match planned to be the first UEFA match to take place with spectators since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, Hungary said last week it would close its borders to foreigners from Tuesday to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. “UEFA is working closely with the Hungarian Football Federation and its government to implement measures to ensure the health of all those attending and participating in...

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28Feb By dthataNo Comments

Business

Border Closure Affecting Telecom Services; Boko Haram Bombs 282 Stations – Airtel

Voice call and data networks in the villages and towns around Nigerian borders have been down due to lack of diesel to power the base stations there, Airtel Nigeria has said. It also said the insurgents bombed 282 telecom base stations in the North East recently. Daily Trust reports that the Federal Government had stopped fuel tankers from delivering fuel to areas close to the borders. But the telecom companies said the epileptic power supply in the country is affecting their base transceiver stations (BTSs) situated near the borders, noting that they are now shutting down “because there is no fuel to power them.” BTS is a piece of equipment that facilitates wireless communication between user equipment and a network. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday on why there are still droppe...

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19Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: Customs Rakes In N6 Billion Daily

Nigeria rakes in between N5 billion and N6 billion daily from imports since the closure of its land borders with neighbouring countries. Prior to the closure in August 2019, daily duty collections hovered between N4 billion and N5 billon, said the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos on Tuesday. The NCS Comptroller-General Col. Hammed Ali (rtd.) attributed the rise to increased activities at the nation’s seaports. ”The NCS daily collection before the border closure ranged between N4 to N5 billion but now, the NCS collects N5billion to N6 billion daily as a result of the rise in activities at the nation’s sea ports,” Ali said on Tuesday at a forum on the “impact of land border closure on the Nigerian economy.” The forum was organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and I...

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31Jan By dthataNo Comments

Business

”Nigeria Has Finished Us” – Ghana Traders Cry Out

Traders in Ghana have labeled Abuja's decision to continue shutting its border as needless and un-African. On the contrary, Nigeria claims the border closure has spurred local production and reduced arms smuggling. Ghanaian trader Gabriel Nartey says the Nigerian border closure has negatively affected business Gabriel Nartey casts a sad look as he sits idly in his spare parts shop located in Ghana's capital Accra. The 50-year-old trader complained that he has not seen business this bad. "I am stuck, I am losing customers because I don't have what they need," Nartey told DW in an interview. "I don't know what to do, it's just a few who can go to China, which is more expensive that can manage, but for those like us who rely on Nigeria only, it is challenging for us." When Ni...

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19Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Nigeria’s Border Closure Not To Punish Neighbours – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the partial closure of Nigeria’s borders was not meant to punish her neighbours, but to strengthen the country’s security and economy.The president stated this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, made in Abuja on Saturday. Adesina said the president was speaking at a meeting with a select group of Nigerian Community in the United Kingdom. According to him, the president explains that the period of closure will be used for stock-taking on threats to the nation’s security and economy. He noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure, which had drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition infiltration. Buhari adjudged the country’s virtual foo...

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7Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Why Chad Withdrew Troops From Nigeria

The recent decision by Chad to withdraw its troops assisting Nigerian Soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram under the aegis of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) may not be unconnected with the closure of borders by the Federal Government, The Nation has learnt. Although highly placed Military source claimed the Chadian troops were withdrawn because it has accomplished the task for which it was drafted. But a reliable source within the military cycle, who doesn’t want his name mentioned, told our correspondent in an exclusive chat that the Chadian troops and those of other countries participating in the Joint Taskforce were supposed to be deployed along the borders of their respective countries and can only deploy troops in the country when requested to so do. According ...

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14Dec By dthataNo Comments

News

Ghana Becomes Nigeria’s Biggest Trade Partner After Border Closure

The latest foreign trade report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows some interesting numbers, as Ghana emerged Nigeria’s biggest export destination for the first time. The report revealed that Ghana tops Nigeria’s export destinations in the third quarter of 2019, as the country imported N908.5 billion worth of Cable sheaths of iron, submersible drilling platforms and crude oil. Nigeria’s top 10 trade partners In Q3 2019, Nigeria’s top 10 trade partners are Ghana, India, Netherlands, Spain, United States, France, South Africa, Italy, China and Canada. As reported in earlier publication on Nairametrics, India has remained Nigeria’s biggest export destination after it eclipsed the United States from the position. According to the latest report, Ghana i...

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5Dec By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

News

1,000 Nigerian Shops Shut Down By Ghanians Over Border Closure

The rising attacks on shops owned by Nigerians in Ghana have escalated since the Federal Government of Nigeria shut its borders, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Olufemi Abikoye, has said. Abikoye said about 1,000 shops owned by Nigerians had been shut as a  retaliation for the border closure which began in August. The shutting of the shops is being enforced by the Ghana Union of Traders’ Association. Abikoye said in a statement that there was a need for both Ghana and Nigeria to settle things amicably so as not to destroy the good relationship between both countries. The statement further read, “It is recalled that there has been ongoing tension between Ghanaian and Nigerian traders of recent, with almost 1,000 shops belonging to Nigerian traders being ill...

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4Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure And Hate Speech Bill Are Illegal – Falana

Lagos Fiery Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has declared that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government was allegedly misled into having the erroneous impression that only border closure can guarantee food security and economic development in the country. Falana, a social crusader and human rights activist added that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional powers to promulgate any law under the guise of Hate Speech, saying such was not captured under the exclusive and concurrent lists of the 1999 constitution. The human rights lawyer clarified that going ahead to promulgate such law would not only betray the trust reposed in the National Assembly by the Nigerian populace but would erode the powers of the state legislative arm since Nigeria operates a federal syste...

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27Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

‘Nigeria Too Big To Be Threatened By Benin’ – PLO Lumumba On Border Closure

Former Director of Kenyan Anti-Corruption Commission Prof. PLO Lumumba has maintained that the federal government is too big to be threatened by smaller neighbouring countries like Benin to result in the closure of land borders. Fielding questions from newsmen during the 6 Goddy Jidenma foundation public lecture in Lagos, Lumumba who was obviously peeved by the closure said: ” I can understand why Nigeria is closing its borders but I am of the view that Nigeria is too big to be threatened by Benin. The apparent lose which we are seeing in the early days which involves abuse of Nigeria’s laws can be dealt with through regulations. If regulations are put in place in a proper manner there would be no need to close the borders. “There are three ways to deal with it; first the short-te...

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27Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: Obasanjo Says Benin Republic Must Mend Its Ways With Nigeria

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has told Nigeria’s west coast neighbour, Benin Republic, to mend its ways for a harmonious bilateral relationship between the two countries. Obasanjo gave the charge during a news briefing on the margins of Policy Dialogue of African Business Associations on Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreements in Addis Ababa, yesterday. He explained that Benin’s notoriety was not new, as Nigeria had for long been enduring the practice which undermined its economic well being. “It happened when I was president of Nigeria. I called the then Benin President, Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo, to let us meet at any of our border posts over the issue. “We eventually met at Badagry (in Nigeria), where we agreed that Nigerian ...

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26Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: Benin, Niger Haven’t Met Our Conditions – FG

The Federal Government on Monday said seizures made by security agents at the country’s land borders indicated that the republics of Benin and Niger were not addressing issues that led to the border closure. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this when he led a government delegation to the Seme border on Monday. He explained that from the magnitude seizures made and the number of illegal immigrants apprehended in the last two weeks, it was obvious that “nothing is being done yet by both countries – Benin and Niger – to address the challenges.” Nigeria had in August closed its land borders, saying smuggling of goods from its neighbouring countries was hurting its economy. On November 4, the Federal Government listed five conditions for reopening of t...

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26Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Higher Revenue, Reduced Fuel Usage, Rice Production Are Gains Of Border Closure – FG

The Federal Government has listed higher import revenue, lower domestic fuel consumption and increased rice production by local farmers among the gains of the closure of the country's land borders in four geo-political zones of the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the gains when he visited the Seme Border on Monday, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning Clement Agba, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service Muhammed Babandede He said since the closure, the monthly import revenue has increased by 15%, instead of dropping as expected in many quarters, whi...

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25Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Rice Price Rises By 29.41%, In Two Months Following Border Closure

Price of rice, a staple consumed during festivities in Nigeria, has risen by over 29.41 per cent since July, along with other foodstuffs. This is even as Christmas is just a few weeks away, Anna Okon reports Before August 28 when the Nigeria Customs Service closed the borders against her neighbours, the price of rice was N17,000 per 50-kilogramme bag, having risen from N14, 000 a few months before. Currently the price of foreign parboiled rice, has gone up to between N22, 000 and N30, 000, findings by our correspondent have shown. Also, the price of local rice that is positioned to replace foreign ones on Nigeria’s dietary palate has also gone up. It was gathered that the local rice at Bodija market in Ibadan, Oyo State, was being sold for N20, 000 per 50kg bag and N16, 000...

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17Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure: Beninese Groan In Pains, Lament Loses

With barely three months after Nigeria closed its border with Benin Republic, things have not been the same with the West African neighbours as the citizens, especially those in Porto Novo and Cotonou, are groaning in pains as a result of the closure. The land borders were closed in August following criminal activities at the nation’s international boundaries with Benin and Niger. One key concern cited by authorities was the rice that Beninese traders import from Asia and then illegally re-export to Nigeria. According to the Nigerian authorities, the importation of these goods jeopardises the country’s agricultural policy aimed at achieving food autonomy. But these protectionist measures taken by President Muhammadu Buhari have had disastrous consequences on the citizens of Be...

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17Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure: Ghana Businesses May Fold Up By The End Of The Year – GCCI

A number of local businesses could fold up by the end of the year if the issue of the Nigeria border closure is not resolved immediately. According to the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), local businesses in the Ashanti Region, in particular, were losing about $3 million a week with the threat of a possible shutdown. This came to light following a tour of some selected companies by officials of the chamber to gauge the mood, assess performance and strategise for the way forward. Among the companies a team from the GCCI visited were Angel Group of Companies, Uni-Jay Fashion and Asamoa Yamoa Farms, all in Kumasi. The National President of the Chamber, Nana Apiagyei Dankawoso I, who led the team on the tour, commended business owners for their resilience in the f...

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16Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

El-Rufai Says He Fully Supports The Closure Of Nigerian Land Borders

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai has backed the Federal Government’s decision to close Nigeria’s land borders. El-Rufai was a special guest at the graduation of Senior Course Three of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja on Friday, November 15th said it is unfair for smaller countries to be sabotaging a big country like Nigeria. He said the step taken was commendable. He explained that Nigeria like any other country likes to trade with other countries but added that there must be fairness. The Governor noted that closure of the borders should be sustained until there were established deals that covered every country. “The partial closure of borders is highly commendable. Nigeria is the largest country in West Africa and the continent and it is ...

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14Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Nigeria Meets Benin, Niger Over Border Closure

Nigeria is locked in a meeting with neighbouring countries over the recent border closure. The Tripartite Committee Meeting by the Foreign Ministers of Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic is to consider the conditions put forward by Nigeria before the land borders can be opened for goods importation. The Federal Government Committee had met fortnight ago setting conditions for reopening of the country’s borders for goods importation from neighbouring countries. Nigeria also insisted that neighbouring countries must respect the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rules of origin if they must bring goods into the country.

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13Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure: ECOWAS Countries Reject Nigerian Goods

Notwithstanding the revenue increase the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, said it has achieved with the on-going partial border closure, exporters are counting their losses as countries within the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, sub-region have started rejecting Nigerian cargoes, apparently, as a form of retaliation against the land border closure. This latest development, according to the exporters, is gradually crippling their businesses. In a chat with Vanguard Maritime Report, Chief Executive Officer, Multi-mix Academy, an export oriented institution, Dr. Obiora Madu, disclosed that Nigerian exports within the ECOWAS region is decreasing due to the border closure, but he failed to give figures. He stated: “It is definitely impacting negatively on the econo...

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9Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Despite Nigeria Border Closure, Benin Republic Maintains Strong Economy – IMF

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that the Republic of Benin has maintained a strong economic performance despite Nigeria’s closure of the land border connecting the two countries. Nigeria on the 19 September 2019, had abruptly halted import and export activities on the border as one of its strategies of stopping smuggling, trafficking and other criminal activities. Luc Eyraud, Deputy Division Chief in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs who led the IMF team in its latest visit to Benin in a press release said the Beninese economic Real GDP is expected to grow by 6.4 per cent in 2019, mostly driven by the agriculture and transport sectors. “Growth should accelerate in 2020 and remain sustained over the medium term, buttressed by vigorous cotton production, construction,...

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9Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure Bites Hard On Rice, Textile Shops In Benin Republic

Investigation by our reporter has revealed that the major textile and rice markets in Cotonou, Benin Republic, have seen a massive decline in patronage following the complete closure of the land borders and increased clampdown on smuggling. A 24-hour observation at the Seme border post revealed a complete compliance with the FG’s directive on the closure of borders to both imports and exports as only passenger movement is aloud. In August, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of Nigeria’s land border with Benin, hence preventing the import of goods. This recent move is part of an effort to tackle smuggling and associated corruption and also to spur domestic agricultural industry. On October 14, 2019, Nigeria ordered the closure of its border with Benin, as well as thos...

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5Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: Nigeria Lists Conditions To Reopen Borders With Neighbours

The Nigerian government on Monday gave a list of conditions that must be met for it to reopen its borders. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, alongside members of the Inter-ministerial committee on the temporary partial closure of land borders, held a press briefing in Abuja to discuss the issues. The nation’s borders have been closed for several weeks in a move the government said was to grow the local economy and reduce illegal importation. The issue has generated controversy in the economy with many condemning the government for not providing palliatives to curb the expected rise in basic goods for families.  Some also argue that the border closure violates Nigeria’s agreements within ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Other Nigerian...

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5Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: ‘Nigerian Rice Farmers Smiling To The Bank’ – Mustapha Shehuri

The closure of Nigerian borders has energised rice farmers in the country who are now smiling to the bank due, the Minister for State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, has said. According to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the agriculture ministry, Mr Shehuri said this at the Livestock House of the ministry in Mando, Kaduna State on Saturday. “They are smiling to the banks with the impressive sales they have recorded and this opportunity has created more jobs, not only in rice production but also livestock and other commodities,” he said. Apart from the closure of the borders, which the minister says has benefitted the rice farmers, the federal government has also implemented major policies to favour local production of rice, Nigeria’s major staple ...

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3Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure: Northern Textile Traders Say They Stand To Lose Over N3 Trillion

While the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is boasting that it has made nothing less than N2.5 trillion as a result of the closure of borders, the Northern textiles traders are lamenting of incurring huge losses as a result of the policy. The Northern textile traders, through their Spokesperson Alhaji Gambo Danpass, said their losses may hit N3 trillion soon if the closure persists. Dampass, in an interview with Sunday Telegraph, said the government should remember that the policy is not only about rice smugglers, it is impacting negatively on other genuine business. He said: “For the past 15 years we have been engaged in genuine businesses of importing and exporting textile materials, due to the death of textile companies in Nigeria as a result of lack of power. We are not doing il...

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2Nov By dthataNo Comments

News

Ghana President Presents Cash To Stranded Ghanaian Drivers On Benin-Nigeria Border

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has presented CFA450,000 to Ghanaian drivers who are stranded at Seme-Krakue, a town on the Nigeria-Benin border. The money is to help the drivers defray expenses they have incurred as a result of the border closure. The drivers have not been able to cross the border since Nigeria shut its border with Benin on August 21, this year. The situation has led to hundreds of vehicles, mostly articulated trucks, being locked at both ends of the border. The money was delivered on behalf of the President by a Deputy Minister of Trade and industry, Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, during a meeting with Ghanaian drivers at the border last Thursday. Also in attendance at the meeting was a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Charles O...

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30Oct By dthataNo Comments

Uncategorized

Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo Finally Speaks On Nigeria Border Closure

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday described the closure of the land border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin was a big blow to regional integration. Commenting for the first time since the Nigerian government closed its border with the Republic of Benin on August 20, Akufo-Addo said the move could negatively affect the regional integration agenda. Akufo-Addo, at a meeting with a delegation from the First Bank of Nigeria at the Jubilee House in Accra, said: “We are about to enter a delicate period in the ECOWAS journey looking ahead of the possibility of a single currency and trying to forge greater integration among our economies and at the same time have important security and other issues which confront us. “We have this business of the closure of the B...

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29Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

CBN Governor Gives Conditions For Reopening Nigerian Borders

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday revealed conditions to be met before the country’s borders could be closed. Speaking with the State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN governor said until neighbouring countries agree to implement mutual anti-smuggling policies, the borders would remain closed. Mr Emefiele stated that Nigerian rice and poultry farmers have particularly been benefiting from the border closure. “In November 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN and some state governors went to Kebbi State to launch the Wet Season Rice Farming. “Since then, we have seen an astronomical growth in the number of farmers who have been going into rice farming and our paddy production has gone up also quite ex...

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27Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

“Border Closure: Buhari Wears Foreign Gucci Shoes Worth $640” – Reno Omokri

Reno Omokri took to his Instagram page to blast President Muhammadu Buhari for closing the border while he uses foreign Gucci designer shoes and wristwatches. General @muhammadubuhari wears IMPORTED $640 @Gucci designer shoes and wristwatches. His second home is London. If he really believes in border closure, he should wear Kano made shoes and Aba made watches. He should abandon the ₦100 million Mercedes Benz Maybach he bought this year with tax payers funds and drive an Innoson. He should attend Aso Rock Clinic instead of a London clinic. He cant close the border on Nigerians and open it for himself. Practice what you preach! ‬

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24Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

End Border Closure In National Interest, Falana Advises Buhari

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has advised the Federal Government to end the closure of the land borders into the country. He said it would be in the national interest for the government to call off the border closure. Rather than continue to close the land borders, Falana advised the Federal Government to “urgently dialogue with Nigeria’s neighbouring countries to jointly fight the menace of smuggling, which necessitated the border closure by Nigeria.” The lawyer gave the advice in a statement on Thursday while delivering a paper on “Rule of Law, Good Governance and Economic Development” at the annual conference of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Accra, Ghana. He urged the Federal Government to reject the endorsement of its border closur...

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24Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Nigeria Border Closure: Nigerian Traders Cry Out ‘We Twiddle Our Thumbs & Pray’

"Nothing crosses into Nigeria and nothing comes out. It's hermetically sealed," said Amadou Idi, sitting in a makeshift shelter to keep out of the rain, and reflecting on the downturn in his luck. "We twiddle our thumbs and pray." Idi's job is a transiting agent -- to get goods across the border to Nigeria at the Dan Issa frontier post in southeastern Niger. But he has been out of work since Nigeria dramatically closed its borders with its neighbours on August 20, declaring it wanted to put an end to chronic smuggling. Niger, which shares a 1,500-kilometre (900-mile) border with Nigeria, has been badly hit by the closure, along with Benin. Both nations are among the poorest in the world. A long line of lorries from Niger and elsewhere in West Africa is stranded at Dan Is...

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23Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Benin Republic Traders Lament As Nigeria Closes Border

Following the Federal Government’s border closure to smuggling, ADEKUNLE SULAIMON who visited adjoining Benin Republic communities along Seme border, reports the frustrations of the traders who had once benefited from the cycle of legal and illegal importation of contraband items into Nigeria. Smuggling, believed to be the bane of the economy in a number of unlimited ways, simply because it is an avenue for the evasion of tax and other levies, endangers government policies by slowing down the development projects meant to be carried out with the revenue ought to be generated for the country. Smuggled goods destabilise market prices since they are often cheaper than the ones supplied to markets through legal routes thereby exposing genuine traders to unsportsmanlike competition. I...

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23Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Foreign Trade: Ghana Needs Nigeria More Than They Need Us – Ghana Minister

Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah, has revealed the extent at which the country relies on Nigeria. According to him, when it comes to trade and other economic balances, Ghana needs Nigeria more than ever, so putting in place countermeasures against Nigeria would not be the best solution to solving the border closure. “The best way to solve this problem is not to pay Nigeria back or have some countermeasure, but coach them into understanding that look, hey we are all losing, and we need you, we need each other. But I can tell you without blinking an eye that economically, trade wise, we need Nigeria more than they need us,” he said this while speaking on JoyNews' PM Express show. In his view, a country such as Nigeria cannot be bluffed in as much as they ...

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23Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure: Producers Of Alomo Bitters Loses Millions Of Dollars

The Ghanaian Alomo Bitters Manufactured by Kasapreko Company limited through its Head of International Business Development Mr Francis Adzah told joybusiness a Ghanaian news platform how the federal government of Nigeria border closure action have halted its businesses as Nigeria is the Company's largest market. He went further to say that more than a total of $2m has been lost since the border closure. Remember how the president Buhari's administration had closed the borders in August, against neighbouring African countries with the claim of checkmating the illegal activities which have to do with Smuggling of weapons, drugs and the huge lost of revenue from import and export tariffs through the activities of smuggling of food items into the country through the various borders most...

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21Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Price Of Rice Will Reduce To N9,000 In 3 Weeks – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday announced that the price of rice in Nigeria will crash to N9,000 in about 3 weeks time. Buhari while speaking through his media aide, Lauretta Onochie on her social media told Nigerians to expect a crash in price of rice. She instead of paying N25,000 for a bag of foreign rice, Nigerians will be paying N9,000 only and save N16,000 for other needs. The media aide to the president boasts for the government despite the hike in price of rice and Turkey in Nigeria. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Custom Service closed the neighbouring border few weeks ago on the order of the President Buhari. She wrote: “Rice addicts like me, should expect a crash in the commodity’s price to about ₦9,000 per 50kg bag in 3 weeks, as rice farm...

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21Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Zainab Ahmed Reveals Why IMF Supports Nigeria’s Border Closure

The Minister of Finance, Mrs . Zainab Ahmed, says the International Monetary Fund supports Nigeria’s closure of its land borders because it understands that the action is not punitive . Addressing newsmen in Washington on Sunday, Ahmed explained that the measure was intended to restore Nigeria’ s relationship with its neighbours , based on commitments made. She said that President Muhammadu Buhari did not want to approve the closure because he was mindful of the adverse effect it would have on the economies of neighbours . According to her, there were several engagements between Nigeria and the neighbouring countries toward securing compliance to the rules , “ but things got worse ” . “ Of course, there will be economic impact on the side of our neighbours due to the border clo...

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20Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

IMF Says Border Closure Negatively Impacting Benin, Niger Republics

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the sustained closure of the Nigerian land borders is hurting economies of Benin Republic and Niger Republic. Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director, African Department (IMF) stated this at a press briefing during the launch of Economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa at the ongoing World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Washington DC. “On the border closure in Nigeria which has been impacting Benin and Niger, our understanding is that the border has been closed, reflecting concerns about smuggling that’s been taking place, illegal trade, not the legal trade that you want to facilitate” he sisd. IMF is also optimistic the borders would soon open. “So we’re very hopeful that, you know, discussions will resolve the challenges that this illegal trade...

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15Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: Local Rice Varieties Now Rule Markets

Locally processed rice is now common in markets and departmental shops, a market survey carried out by Daily Trust recently has shown. Miva rice, Mama Gold dominate markets in Benue with a 50kg bag of each costing between N16,000 and N18,500. In Cross River State, Bansanra rice and Ayade Vitaminised & Nutrient Rice are common in most of the local markets in the state with a 50kg bag sold for N15,500 to N17,000, depending on the market. Our correspondent in Kano reports that the popular Jamila rice now being bagged is gradually taking the place of foreign rice in the state alongside Umza rice. They both cost N16,000 to N17,500 per 50kg bag also depending on place of purchase. In Abuja market and some notable stores, Mama Gold, Mama Pride produced by Olam go for N16,000 to N18,...

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14Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

There Is No Hunger In Nigeria – FG

The Federal Government seems unperturbed by the widespread condemnation of the current border closure, as it has categorically stated that the exercise will remain until neighboring countries respect the laws of Nigeria against food smuggling. This is even as he ruled out hunger issues affecting Nigerians, claiming that Nigeria is food sufficient. On August 20, 2019, Nigeria closed her borders in four geopolitical zones across the country: South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, who spoke at a press briefing to mark the 2019 World Food Day, in Abuja, argued that it was laughable when Nigerians cry of hunger, because, according to him, they do not know what hunger is all about. According to him, the p...

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14Oct By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Border Closure: FG Releases Statement

STATEMENT FROM JOINT PRESS BRIEFING ON EXERCISE SWIFT RESPONSE Some of you will recall that as part of measures to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime borders, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies commenced a joint border security exercise, codenamed ‘EX-SWIFT RESPONSE’ in 4 geopolitical zones of the country, namely; South South, South West, North Central and North West on the 20th August 2019. The exercise is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and is aimed at better securing our borders in order to strengthen our economy and address other trans-border security concer...

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14Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Niger Bans Rice Export To Nigeria Following Closure Of Nigeria’s Borders

Niger Republic has banned the exportation of rice to Nigeria following the closure of Nigeria’s borders. Since August 20, 2019, Nigeria has closed its borders in four geopolitical zones across the country, which include South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West. In his address during a joint press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, revealed that Niger Republic recently banned the export of rice to Nigeria as a result of the closure. He said, “The government, through diplomatic channels will continue to engage our neighbours to agree to comply with ECOWAS Protocol on Transit. “Goods that are on the prohibition list in Nigeria, such as rice, used clothing, poultry products and vegetable oil should not be exp...

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13Oct By dthataNo Comments

Uncategorized

Adeboye Hits FG On Border Closure, VAT Increase, Others

General Overseer of The Redeemed Church of God, (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has kicked against the proposed increase of VAT from 5 percent to 7.5 percent by the federal government. The proposal, he said, will further increase the burdens on Nigerians. Adeboye also said the proposed reintroduction of toll gates on federal government was insensitive. The plan, he said, shouldn’t be considered at a time most federal roads were in pitiable conditions. The federal government, as far as Adeboye is concerned, should refocus its plans and programmes toward initiatives that would lessen the suffering and burdens of Nigerians. He spoke last Sunday at the Special Independence Day Celebration of the church at its headquarters, RCCG, Throne of Grace, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The programme tagged A...

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13Oct By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure Exposes Nigeria’s Deficiency In Local Rice Production

A Pan-Africa non-governmental organisation (NGO), Feed Africa Advocacy Network (FAAN) has declared that the recent border closure by the federal government which has triggered an astronomical increase in the prices of some food has exposed the reality that Nigeria is far from meeting domestic needs. The closure has led to a sharp increase in the prices of some major foods, including rice, questioning official claim that the country is self-sufficient in rice production. A 50 kilogram bag of local UMZA rice goes for about N19,500 as against N14,000-N15,000 before the border closure while another local brand, Big Bull sells for about N21,000 now as against N15,000 earlier. At a briefing in Abuja, the Executive Director FAAN, Chika Okeke said the border closure with the attendant spi...

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3Oct By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

News

Nigerian customs rakes in N5bn daily since border closure – Customs boss, Hammed Ali

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, on Wednesday, October 3rd told the National Assembly members that the agency had been raking in between N4.7bn and N5.8bn since the Federal Government closed the nation’s borders. Ali stated this when he appeared before the Senate and House of Representatives joint committees on Finance and National Planning, working on the 2020 – 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper. The development came just as the joint panel summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Controller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, to appear before it on Thursday. The heads of the two agencies are expected to brief the joint panel on the MTEF/FSP documents. The ...

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26Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Amosun, Suswan, Abaribe, Yayi and Other Oppose Border Closure

Senators, yesterday, opposed the closure of land borders by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. They said the closure was a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Contributing to a motion sponsored by Adamu Aliero, tagged “The Impact of Border Closure on the Nigerian Economy,” Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abba Moro, Gabriel Suswam, Ibikunle Amosun, Solomon Adeola and others who opposed the total closure, urged the President to reconsider his stance. Abaribe. in his contribution to the debate, said the closure of the borders had affected the prices of food and other services in the market, which were predominantly imported through land borders. He added that farmers and other small business owners were also struggling to ply their legitimate trade across t...

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21Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Why We Closed Our Borders – President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, received the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA. Our State House correspondent reports that the delegation, which were drawn from Nigeria and other West African countries, were received at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking on the closure of the Nigerian border, President Buhari said the aim was to put an end to smuggling and dumping of substandard items from other countries into Nigeria. He lamented the impact of fake drugs and foods on the Nigerian citizens, including how fake electrical items have led to fires in homes and loss of lives and property. The president said since the border was shut, Nigeria has witnessed a significant drop...

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19Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

I Wholeheartedly Support Borders’ Closure — Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed satisfaction with the decision of the federal government to close the land borders with the neighbouring countries, describing it as the only way through which Nigeria’s anti-smuggling laws could be enforced. He stated this in Kano on Wednesday while briefing the press in his palace on the sideline of recent appointments into the National Economic Advisory Council by President Muhammadu Buhari. He blamed the country’s porous land borders for high incidences of tax evasion, which according to him have been turned into escape routes from excise duties and tariffs as well as viable channels for diversion of petroleum products from the country.The monarch emphasized that closing the borders remains the only option for the country to r...

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14Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

The Problem Is Not Going To Farm But Coming Back – Shehu Sani

Former Senator Representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani has made Mockery of call to go back to the Farm by the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The president had on different occasions in the past called on Nigerians especially the youth to go back to farm in his effort to diversify the country's economy from oil driven to Agriculture and for job Creation purposes. To Beef up security and enforce compliance with the existing ECOWAS protocols on movement among neighboring countries, Nigerian Borders were closed by the security agencies. In his Tweet, Shehu Sani said " they closed the border and want you to go to the farm; there's no problem with going to the farm, the problem is coming back from the farm"

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11Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

Niger Republic Bans Export Of Rice To Nigeria

The Government of Niger Republic has banned the export of rice into Nigeria. The ban follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the closure of Nigeria’s border with neighbouring countries to curtail the activities of smugglers. The directive stated that the ban was to take effect from September 5. In a circular dated September 5, 2019, Niger’s Director-General of Customs, Oumarou Amadu, ordered all relevant agencies to comply strictly or face severe sanctions. Since the restriction of access to rice and 40 other commodities came into effect in 2015, Nigeria’s other neighbours, Benin, Cameroon and Togo, have not been so understanding of PMB’s protectionist policy. Benin is said to have crashed its rice importation tariff to seven per cent, while Cameroon brought i...

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10Sep By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Prices Of Food Items, Others Rise As Borders Remain Shut

Prices of food stuffs and other commodities have increased in many border towns and most of the country’s cities as the borders remain partially closed, Daily Trust reports. The partial closure is as a result of joint security exercise conducted by the customs, immigration, and other security outfits aimed at securing Nigeria’s borders. The exercise started on August 20. The authorities said the security exercise was called at the instance of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Daily Trust reports that many Nigerians who do trans-border business have been experiencing difficulties in carrying out their trade. This has forced them to cut their demand even as they increased the prices of their little stocks, our reporters learnt. Worst hit are residents of border communities ...

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9Sep By dthataNo Comments

News

Border Closure Crashes Prices Of Petrol, Diesel

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has disclosed that following the closure of the border, petrol now sells for N144 per litre, showing that the closure has blocked smuggling of petrol to the neighbouring countries. Rewane said the development showed that part of the nearly 60 million litres of petrol said to be consumed daily in Nigeria were smuggled to the neighbouring countries. He also revealed that diesel price has also crashed to N210 per litre. Rewane, disclosed this in a report he presented at the monthly Lagos Business School’s executive breakfast meeting for September, obtained at the weekend. Confirming the drz̄op in petrol smuggling, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National...

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