*Understanding why Nigeria closed its border:*

"Benin Republic has a population of 12 million people. But it is the worlds 5th importer of rice. In 2018, it imported rice worth US$996m.

Benin is also world's largest importer of used cars and second-hand clothing. All with a population of only 12 million people.

Do you wonder how? Don't!
98.2% of these imports into Benin are only on transit. Their final destination is Nigeria!

Nigeria is world's largest consumer of used cars and second-hand clothing, and is also Africa's largest consumer of Asian-grown rice.

The problem here is that all these imported goods attract appropriate import duty and trade tax, which are paid to the Beninoise Government while the goods are thence SMUGGLED into Nigeria WITHOUT ANY PAYMENT to the Nigerian Government, thereby, adding zero value to the Nigerian economy!

Sadly, THIS IS ALL DONE BY NIGERIANS!
Granted, ECOWAS/CEDEAO charter allows for free trade between member states, but on goods produced in member countries, and NOT on imports from other economic blocs.

Where foreign goods are transiting through a member country, and ending up in another member country, the ECOWAS charter stipulates that the country of transit MAY collect a token trade tax, and its Customs officials should then escort the goods to the border of the importing country and hand it over to the Customs officials of the importing country!

But what we see in the case of Benin Republic is that it collects CUSTOMS DUTY plus TRADE TAX, and then allows the goods to pass through its hinterland for onward smuggle into Nigeria!

This is a clear violation of ECOWAS statutes and no nation can condone such costly infraction.

Nigeria has tolerated this nonsense from Benin for far too long and it is time to stop the malpractice if we want Nigeria's economy to grow.

Therefore, whoever cries foul because we have closed our borders to smugglers while we're putting our act together, IS AN ENEMY OF NIGERIA!.

Nigeria makes up about 74% of ECOWAS population and about 71% of its economy. It is ECOWAS that needs Nigeria and not the other way round!

ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEMBER COUNTRIES MUST BE BASED ON EXTANT REGULATION.

#copied

Closing border no be problem.

The problem is; the fact that insufficient measures were taken to give the impact of the border closure on the citizens a soft landing.

Joystark:
Closing border no be problem.

The problem is; the fact that insufficient measures were taken to give the impact of the border closure on the citizens a soft landing.

you just exhausted english

nakaman:
you just exhausted english

Abeg correct me of I'm wrong.

Joystark:


Abeg correct me of I'm wrong.

more like confusion. ur the only person that can understand what u just said.

nakaman:
more like confusion. ur the only person that can understand what u just said.

Okay.
I simply meant, nothing tangible was done to reduce the suffering closing our borders will bring.

Sho ti gbo?

odutolasodiq:
*Understanding why Nigeria closed its border:*

"Benin Republic has a population of 12 million people. But it is the worlds 5th importer of rice. In 2018, it imported rice worth US$996m.

Benin is also world's largest importer of used cars and second-hand clothing. All with a population of only 12 million people.

Do you wonder how? Don't!
98.2% of these imports into Benin are only on transit. Their final destination is Nigeria!

Nigeria is world's largest consumer of used cars and second-hand clothing, and is also Africa's largest consumer of Asian-grown rice.

The problem here is that all these imported goods attract appropriate import duty and trade tax, which are paid to the Beninoise Government while the goods are thence SMUGGLED into Nigeria WITHOUT ANY PAYMENT to the Nigerian Government, thereby, adding zero value to the Nigerian economy!

Sadly, THIS IS ALL DONE BY NIGERIANS!
Granted, ECOWAS/CEDEAO charter allows for free trade between member states, but on goods produced in member countries, and NOT on imports from other economic blocs.

Where foreign goods are transiting through a member country, and ending up in another member country, the ECOWAS charter stipulates that the country of transit MAY collect a token trade tax, and its Customs officials should then escort the goods to the border of the importing country and hand it over to the Customs officials of the importing country!

But what we see in the case of Benin Republic is that it collects CUSTOMS DUTY plus TRADE TAX, and then allows the goods to pass through its hinterland for onward smuggle into Nigeria!

This is a clear violation of ECOWAS statutes and no nation can condone such costly infraction.

Nigeria has tolerated this nonsense from Benin for far too long and it is time to stop the malpractice if we want Nigeria's economy to grow.

Therefore, whoever cries foul because we have closed our borders to smugglers while we're putting our act together, IS AN ENEMY OF NIGERIA!.

Nigeria makes up about 74% of ECOWAS population and about 71% of its economy. It is ECOWAS that needs Nigeria and not the other way round!

ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEMBER COUNTRIES MUST BE BASED ON EXTANT REGULATION.

#copied

nigerian border was always closed during EMBER period in buhari's govt. Last yr and last 2 yrs border were closed. You made no point. He just want to help his northern brothers sale their rice with high profit. We already know the trick.

nakaman:
nigerian border was always closed during EMBER period in buhari's govt. Last yr and last 2 yrs border were closed. You made no point. He just want to help his northern brothers sale their rice with high profit. We already know the trick.

r

That is not a fair conclusion from you sir. Tribal sentiments about national issues will not help our country to grow. The OP actually made a valid point and I think the govt is taking the necessary steps to stop the trade imbalance; though the effects are biting hard. But we cannot just continue watching while our IGR is being depleted by our neighbour.

femixx:

r

That is not a fair conclusion from you sir. Tribal sentiments about national issues will not help our country to grow. The OP actually made a valid point and I think the govt is taking the necessary steps to stop the trade imbalance; though the effects are biting hard. [s]But we cannot just continue watching while our IGR is being depleted by our neighbour.[/s]

a very bad timing, we have many more means of generating revenue, y so concerned with the border, the IGR ur speaking of is being lavishd on trips that we are yet to see the outcome. MR President decisions are unwise.

Joystark:


Okay.
I simply meant, nothing tangible was done to reduce the suffering closing our borders will bring.

Sho ti gbo?

lol

Joystark:
Closing border no be problem.

The problem is; the fact that insufficient measures were taken to give the impact of the border closure on the citizens a soft landing.

LOL. I was about to type to same thing but in English that is not 'heavy' like yours.

A sensitive government don't just wake up and make decisions with analysing and softing the impact on the masses. There should have been plans to make the impact on Nigerians not this hard.

This has been the problems of Nigeria, the policies are always good but the planning, implementation and timing are always off.

And noone will be surprised if the policy is sabotaged or gamed for the benefit of some individuals.

golddeejay:
LOL. I was about to type to same thing but in English that is not 'heavy' like yours.

A sensitive government don't just wake up and make decisions with analysing and softing the impact on the masses. There should have been plans to make the impact on Nigerians not this hard.

This has been the problems of Nigeria, the policies are always good but the planning, implementation and timing are always off.

And noone will be surprised if the policy is sabotaged or gamed for the benefit of some individuals.

Yeah well.
God Airpus

I don't know when we will stop talking about the gains of border closure and start asking the government what they are doing with the money generated.

Nigeria Customs claims they are making so much money now, yet Buhari and co are still raising VATs and borrowing money up and down just to fund the budget.

This is not nice.

Whatever happened to accountability and judicious use of money?

Naija

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrjn6PIluZ0

Nigeria Closes All Land Borders Till January 2020