Some stranded trucks at the Seme-Krakue border
SOME
AGGRIEVED Nigerian traders have protested their government’s decision to close
its borders with Benin.
This
is because it has become difficult for traders from other West African states
to transport their goods to Nigeria.
The
Seme-Krake border was closed on August 21, 2019, with Nigerian authorities
saying at the time that they were trying to control to transportation of
contraband goods into West Africa’s most populous nation.
The
impact of the border closure has been severe on Ghanaian traders, especially
members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).
GUTA
has been pressuring the government to ensure that Nigeria reopens the border to
allow Ghanaian traders who are currently stranded at the border to enter
Nigeria with their goods.
But
the continuous closure of the border is now affecting Nigerian traders as well,
hence their protest action.
On
Thursday, October 31, 2019, a group of Nigerian traders stormed Nigeria’s
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment premises to register their
displeasure over the unpopular decision of the President Buhari’s
administration.
The
protestors chanted war songs, calling on the Buhari – led government to stop
using high-handed tactics in solving issues bordering on smuggling of illicit
goods.
The
protestors urged the regime to adopt dialogue and diplomacy to tackle the
problem with their neighbour, Benin.
The
presence of the protestors compelled the Nigerian officials at the Trade,
Industry and Investment Ministry to change location of a meeting between them
and a Ghanaian delegation.
The
Ghanaian delegation comprising Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional
Integration, Trade and Industry, Charles Owiredu and Carlos Ahenkora, respectively,
were in Nigeria to find an amicable solution to the border closure.
The
meeting was then relocated to Hilton Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
The
demonstration attracted police to the Ministry of Trade to maintain law and
order.
GUTA’s fresh concern
In
another development, GUTA has called for Ghanaian trucks stranded in Nigeria
for weeks now following the closure of the country’s border at Seme to be
allowed to move out.
GUTA
says it is not bothered by the extension of the border closure so long as
Ghanaian traders who are already in Nigeria are allowed to return to Ghana with
their products.
Nigeria
has extended
the period for the closure of its frontiers
to other countries till January 31, 2020.
BY Melvin Tarlue
