“Delegates agreed on the establishment of a joint border patrol team comprising the police, customs, immigration, navy and state security services of the three countries”. That was the highlight of the meeting of foreign ministers and other bureaucrats from Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic held on 14 November in Abuja. The goal remains to resolve the issues and ensure the reopening of Nigeria’s closed borders with her neighbours.
The communique reported the resolve of delegates to ensure that people crossing the joint borders will henceforth present standard Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) travel documents. Further, Finance and Trade ministers of the countries will set up a committee to promote intra-regional trade.
The first meeting of the joint border patrol team comes up in Abuja on November 25-26. The expectation is that the meeting will pronounce on a date for the reopening of the borders based on mutual agreements on fundamentals.
We welcome these positive steps towards the resolution of a significant diplomatic and economic challenge for Nigeria and her West African neighbours. In an earlier editorial, we canvassed the imperative of picking the lessons of this closure and moving forward to maintain continued trade relations with our neighbours. We reiterate our call on the government to assess the situation, learn the lessons, implement but, above all, open the borders.
How long can we keep the boundaries shut?
The Nigerian Customs Service claims increased collectables and revenue due to the closure. One lesson is to enhance security and tighten avenues for collections rather than a blanket closure. Other reports speak of even heightened smuggling at the closed borders.
The border closure has impacted all the countries to the west of Nigeria. Benin, Togo, Ghana, all the way to Senegal have felt the negative consequences of the closure of the Nigerian border at Seme. In turn, Nigerian businesses and individuals have also suffered from the shutdown.
One of the critical issues arising from the closure is the imperative of enforcing rules of origin in the dealings between Nigeria and her neighbours. Nigeria has evidence that our neighbours became trans-shipment ports for goods heading to our country. They imposed and collected duties and taxes on those goods but passed them on to our country without the same courtesy. It is time to have legitimate and proper trading relations with our neighbours that includes playing by the rules.
Rice has been central to the closure. The federal government claims the closure was necessary to stop dumping of foreign rice and give a chance to local producers. Unfortunately, there is no significant change in the market. In the shops and markets, foreign rice still stands neck to neck with local varieties. It only created a gap in supply that has led to rising prices of the commodity ahead of the Yuletide.
In the course of this closure, the Nigeria Customs Service claimed several improvements including higher collections and smoother operations. We are glad for them. On the other side, the Customs Service also played the extra-constitutional role of pronouncing on the sale of petrol. It prohibited its sale within 20 kilometres to the border. On what authority does the Nigeria Customs Service stand to make such proclamations?
Finally, Nigeria, as the leader in the region must lead. We must ensure compliance with the spirit and letter of the ECOWAS treaty and the new African Free Continental Trade Agreement. It is the call of leadership to do the right thing at all times.
