Traders and transporters in Northern Nigeria have lamented a weekly loss of about N13 Billion due to the border closure over the ongoing crisis in the Niger Republic.
The Nigerian Customs had closed Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto and Maigatari in Jigawa following President Bola Tinubu’s order on August 4 that all borders with Niger Republic be shut.
Speaking with pressmen in Abuja on Sunday, the chairman, Arewa Economic Forum Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, said the border closure has caused unbearable consequences for traders and pleaded with the federal government to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi to allow transporters and marketers to import goods into Nigeria.
“Since the order by the President to close all the borders with the Niger Republic following the announcement of the coup, the consequences have been huge. Northern traders loss N13billion weekly.
“Trade between Niger and Nigeria is usually informal, especially in perishable goods and only last year alone, it is estimated at about N177bn in goods and services like livestock and food items
“Therefore, further closure of the border will be detrimental to the huge trade going on between these two countries.
“We hereby appeal to President Tinubu to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi state to enable traders bring in their goods into the country and empower customs to collect import duty thereafter,” he explained.
A member of the forum, Hamza Saleh Jibiya also said since the closure of the border, about 2,000 containers laden with perishable and non-perishable goods have been trapped and cannot be cleared.
“The average value of a container is between $20,000 to $70,000 which in our estimation will be about N140bn trapped in those containers.
“The alternative which we appeal now is for the federal government to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi to enable us remain in business,” he added.
