"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."

Even a layman will understand this explanation better

PMB should throw the borders key into the Atlantic Ocean. Nigeria must grow

There are 3 major categories of people who don't like the border closure:

1. The Smugglers.
2. Those trading and profiting from smuggled goods.
3. Relatives, friends and investors to smugglers.

I pity Ghanaians this Christmas o. I trust Buhari na. The man get heart die. Nothing will make him open that border.

That's if he has not lost the key self

netpro:
There are 3 major categories of people who don't like the border closure:

1. The Smugglers.
2. Those trading and profiting from smuggled goods.
3. Relatives, friends and investors to smugglers.

4. Asian farmers and their governments
5. Benin, Togo, Niger and Ghana governments

Area4Area:

4. Asian farmers and their governments
5. Benin, Togo, Niger and Ghana governments

Right on point.

The closure will:
- Bring Nigeria more revenue.
- Boost agriculture. Anyone that venture into agriculture will join others in smiling to the Bank.
- More development, etc.

Area4Area:

4. Asian farmers and their governments
5. Benin, Togo, Niger and Ghana governments

Nigeria really needs to tighten the screws more on the smuggling routes.

Border must remained close

Another point to note is that all the forex used to import all these goods to Benin Republic are sourced in Nigeria, thereby putting pressure on our exchange rates.

They buy forex in Nigeria, take it and go and buy contraband, ship to Cotonu (which allows people to import anything they want), they pay import duties to Benin Republic and then smuggle the whole thing back into Nigeria. That way Benin looses nothing (forex and all), they just collect the revenue. We loose forex, revenue, our local industries can't compete, insecurity thrives due to influx of smuggled arms and ammunition etc.

And the three dunc3s that preceded Buhari ( Including the great letter writer and Dr Clueless) did nothing about it, or they all knew nothing about ECOWAS trade charter despite all their degrees!!!!

Nigeria really messed up, so we cannot survive without Benin/Ghana products, these people used to come to Nigeria in search of greener pasture but we now depend on them to feed.
Abeg make una eat something else if rice is too expensive

Builderman:
"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."

Please explain why importers avoid Nigerian ports. Is it solely down to the duties?

And if so why are you Nigerian import duties prohibitive?

I am a fan of the border closure. I support it solely for economic reasons. I do no imports but reports have it that Benin ports are preferred cos of easy clearance and affordable charges whereas Nigeria ports are crazy in clearance and operate a discriminatory approach.

Eteka1:
Another point to note is that all the forex used to import all these goods to Benin Republic are sourced in Nigeria, thereby putting pressure on our exchange rates.

On point

Rice...oh my rice....na so u go do me

For once I finally understand the closure.
We may suffer for a while but in due time we will adjust.

While focus is on Benin Republic/car/rice smuggling...borders to Niger/Chad/Cameroon is closed on paper and media hype...

Multiplier7:
I pity Ghanaians this Christmas o. I trust Buhari na. The man get heart die. Nothing will make him open that border.

that's if he has not lost the key self

Zoo Republik of Ghana must learn by force. Just30 oya say after me: Nigeria is the Giant of Africa, My dwarf president and foolish zoo citizens of the federal republik of banku eaters are sorry for always being disrespectful. I just30 apologize, I dnt want hunger to finish me

Sirjamo:
And the three dunc3s that preceded Buhari ( Including the great letter writer and Dr Clueless) did nothing about it, or they all knew nothing about ECOWAS trade charter despite all their degrees!!!!

Infact Jonathan had budget for importation of rice from benin. As in Benin and Togo collect both custom duty, tax plus all our budgetary allocations! Lol

mmauton:
While focus is on Benin Republic/car/rice smuggling...borders to Niger/Chad/Cameroon is closed on paper and media hype...

Stop fooling urself and swallowing lies.

Sirjamo:
And the three dunc3s that preceded Buhari ( Including the great letter writer and Dr Clueless) did nothing about it, or they all knew nothing about ECOWAS trade charter despite all their degrees!!!!

OBJ at a point closed it but he had to reopen under pressure unlike Buhari who no send anybody, do anyhow and see anyhow

More than 50 loaded trucks stranded in Seme Border after the border closure by the federal government


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRWWZ9CAJM

Sunofgod:


Please explain why importers avoid Nigerian ports. Is it solely down to the duties?

And if so why are you Nigerian import duties prohibitive?

Reason our import duties are high is because the FG is trying to stimulate local production as we can see in our rice production now, making imports more expensive so that more producers would go into production and produce more, we conserve our scarce foreign exchange and jobs are created. By the time we have a comparative advantage in the production of the stuffs, the FG may now relax the duties

allthingsgood:


Infact Jonathan had budget for importation of rice from benin. As in Benin and Togo collect both custom duty, tax plus all our budgetary allocations! Lol

You forgot to add that our subsidized petrol is smuggled into Benin and Togo too and reducing their imports for it and they are able to conserve their forex to our detriment.
Our subsidized petrol is meant for only Nigerians and not for the subregion filled with leeches

9jahotblog:
More than 50 loaded trucks stranded in Seme Border after the border closure by the federal government


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRWWZ9CAJM

Ghana's kasapreko makers of alomo bitters are losing about $1 million every month since the closure.
Any serious exporter from those countries should use our seaports for now

NigeriaIsDoomed:
Zoo Republik of Ghana must learn by force. Just30 oya say after me: Nigeria is the Giant of Africa, My dwarf president and foolish zoo citizens of the federal republik of banku eaters are sorry for always being disrespectful. I just30 apologize, I dnt want hunger to finish me

lol

We have endured the rubbish for long now!

Builderman:
"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."

Concise and brilliantly written!

Multiplier7:
I pity Ghanaians this Christmas o. I trust Buhari na. The man get heart die. Nothing will make him open that border.

That's if he has not lost the key self

that's if buhari even remember say he close border self. Ahmed Ali when dey in charge self no get joy.

Eteka1:
Another point to note is that all the forex used to import all these goods to Benin Republic are sourced in Nigeria, thereby putting pressure on our exchange rates.

They buy forex in Nigeria, take it and go and buy contraband which is shipped to Cotonu (which allows people to import anything they want), they pay import duties to Benin Republic and then smuggle the whole thing back into Nigeria. That way Benin looses nothing (forex and all), they just collect the revenue. We loose forex, revenue, our local industries can't compete, insecurity thrives due to influx of smuggled arms and ammunition etc.

U forgot to add that our subsidized petrol and kerosene find thier way into these West African neighbors. I agree with Buhari on boarder closure