By RFIPosted on 04-11-2019Modified on 04-11-2019 at 17:37

Since August 20, 2019, Nigeria has decided to close all its borders. A situation that weighs on Beninese traders. The president of the ECOWAS Task Force for Free Movement, General Salou Djibo, went to the border between the two countries.

Since August 20, Nigeria, a member country of the ECOWAS that promotes the free movement of people and goods, has decided to close all its borders, officially to fight against the entry into its territory prohibited products such as rice essence of contraband, used cars. A measure that should be extended until 31 January 2020 by decision of the Nigerian head of state.

ECOWAS came to inquire about the consequences of this closure. Salou Djibo gathered in the conference room of the post-border Sèmè-Kraké all the administration which manages the flow of the passengers of the vehicles: customs, police and the representatives of the truckers blocked here for two and a half months.

Salou Djibo and his escorts asked specific questions to the customs receiver and the Commissioner of Kraké. Questions that looked like a small inquiry to confirm or deny everything Nigeria blames Benin.

More than a lawyer, the receiver of customs suggested that Benin was irreproachable in terms of compliance with regulations. Salou Djibo listened, took notes. Then, he told RFI that he was now going to report and report to whom.

More than 1,000 trucks blocked

The revenue impact of this closure has not yet been officially quantified. Benin has not published any figures. But the volume of trade with Nigeria is so important that everyone guesses the shortfall. Customs at Kraké, for example, has not collected any receipts for two and a half months, while monthly receipts are around 300 million CFA francs.

As for the products that come from Nigeria and are put on the market in Benin, these products are increasing. Several truckers have also told President Salou Djibo that the situation was no longer tenable and that it was necessary to save them. Salou Djibo told them to show a little patience.

Currently, there are 1,100 trucks blocked and immobilized on the parks at the Sèmè-Kraké border.

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