• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Africa

Nigeria meets with West African neighbours on border closure

28 November 2019, 11:05 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Economic Community Of West African States flags are pictured during a Nigeria, Benin and Niger foreign ministers meeting on Nigeria's border closure in Abuja, Nigeria.

Economic Community Of West African States flags are pictured during a Nigeria, Benin and Niger foreign ministers meeting on Nigeria's border closure in Abuja, Nigeria.

Image: Reuters(File Image)

Economic Community Of West African States flags are pictured during a Nigeria, Benin and Niger foreign ministers meeting on Nigeria's border closure in Abuja, Nigeria.

Nigeria has met with its West African neighbours over its land border closure, with the African giant insisting on levying duties on goods transiting to its country through neighbouring nations to curb smuggling.

“There was a meeting between the comptrollers of customs of all the three countries involved. We have not reached any agreement but our insistence is that we must all respect the ECOWAS protocol on transit goods,” Information Minister Lai Mohammed told reporters in Abuja.

Mohammed said the protocol on duty payment for transit goods has not been followed to the detriment of local manufacturers.

He said the government was putting in place checks to ensure that Nigeria’s economy will not be overrun as a result of a free trade agreement it signed this year. Nigeria plans to keep its land borders closed until at least January.

In July, Nigeria signed up to an African Continental Free Trade Area, a project to create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, despite fears that Nigeria could be flooded with cheap goods from competitive neighbours.

Since taking office in 2015, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has introduced policies aimed at curbing imports and smuggling, to boost local manufacturing. Buhari has also been trying to boost revenues after a 2016 recession slashed income.

“We cannot continue to subsidize the rest of West Africa,” Mohammed said, adding that Nigeria has been able to save around 30% from its fuel consumption as a result of the border closure.

Some 10-20% of Nigerian fuel is smuggled to neighbouring countries as gasoline is heavily subsidised in the country and prices are higher in neighbouring countries.

Mohammed said import duty collection has grown by 15% since the closure, three months ago, noting that the number of weapons smuggled into the country has also reduced.

Nigeria, Benin and Niger agreed this month to set up a joint border patrol force to tackle smuggling. The countries planned to hold their first meeting in Abuja this week.

Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele said he would advise the Nigerian government to maintain the border closure in the interests of boosting economic output, which has been recovering relatively slowly in the non-oil sector

Emefiele said the impact of the closures on prices was”reactionary and temporary” and that the medium-term benefits of the government’s decision outweighed the short-term costs after inflation soared to a 17-month high last month.

Share article
Tags: African Continental Free Trade AreaNigeriaEcowasAbuja
Previous Post

Mpumalanga woman in court for husband’s murder

Next Post

Forty years on, New Zealand apologises for Antarctic plane disaster

Related Posts

Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North

UN warns more than one million may flee Sudan conflict

29 May 2023, 5:31 PM
FILE PHOTO: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria's newly declared winner of 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu pose for photograph

Nigeria’s Tinubu sworn in as president, under pressure over economy and security

29 May 2023, 12:30 PM
FILE PHOTO: A man walks while smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah//File Photo

Heavy clashes in Sudan’s capital as truce set to expire

29 May 2023, 12:24 PM
FILE PHOTO: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks during a Reuters interview

Uganda approves harsh anti-LGBTQ law, risks global backlash

29 May 2023, 11:39 AM
President 
Cyril Ramaphosa
 arriving in the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja

Ramaphosa in Nigeria to attend Tinubu’s inauguration

29 May 2023, 8:00 AM
Gerco van Deventer held hostage by JIM in the north of Mali.

Gift of the Givers releases Gerco van Deventer’s “proof of life” video

29 May 2023, 6:39 AM
Next Post
New Zealand's Prime Minister Ms. Jacinda Ardern says the actions of the then government and the airline caused more pain and grief to the victims' families.

Forty years on, New Zealand apologises for Antarctic plane disaster

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • DENOSA defends nurses for placing newborns in boxes
  • Limpopo teacher writes a book which simplifies Maths
  • North West Health probes why newborn babies were placed in boxes
  • Majodina refutes allegations of soliciting a bribe from Mkhwebane
  • Pending court cases interfering with my duties: AmaZulu King
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Experts raise caution over Prime energy drink craze
  • 108-carat ‘fancy intense pink’ diamond discovered in Lesotho
  • Dr Nandipha Magudumana, co-accused in Thabo Bester’s escape to apply for bail
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Highly unlikely Majodina attempted to solicit funds from Mkhwebane: FF+
  • Bester’s lawyer to challenge procedures of his re-arrest in Tanzania
  • VIDEO: Accused 1 to 4 in Thabo Bester escape denied bail
  • Alleged rhino poaching kingpin to appear in court
  • Gift of the Givers releases Gerco van Deventer’s “proof of life” video

LATEST

Russian flagged Lady R transits Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey April 11, 2023.
  • South Africa

Nothing was loaded onto Lady R: SANDF Chief


Babies inside of cardboard boxes at Mahikeng Hospital in the North West
  • South Africa

SAMA disappointed with newborns in boxes debacle


Natassja Jansen after being granted bail
  • Thabo Bester saga
  • South Africa

Natassja Jansen’s legal counsel welcomes her bail conditions


Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North
  • Africa

UN warns more than one million may flee Sudan conflict


File: Collins Chabane Municipality mayor Moses Maluleke speaking at an event
  • South Africa

Current Collins Chabane Mayor wants predecessor’s murder case quickly concluded


Mauricio Pochettino applauds fans after a match.
  • Sport

Pochettino handed task of reviving Chelsea’s fortunes


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Mpumalanga woman in court for husband’s murder
Next Forty years on, New Zealand apologises for Antarctic plane disaster