The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents have tasked the Federal Government to re-open the country’s border in order to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
In August 2019, the Federal Government closed all the country’s land borders on boundaries with Benin, Niger and Cameroon in order to tackle smuggling.
However, the customs agents reminded the Federal Government that the AfCFTA regime which hopes to take effect from January 2021, will place Nigerian businessmen at a disadvantage if the nation’s land borders remained closed to trade.
The association, in the statement signed by the National President, Iju Nwabunike, asked the government to effect gradual reopening of the closed borders.
Nwabunike also appealed to lawmakers to stop interfering in cargo clearing.
Parts of the statement read, “In a similar vein, the association also interacted with ranking members of the Senate over allegations of National Assembly members interference in cargo clearing.
“After closed-door interactions, it was mutually agreed between ANLCA and members of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise that it negates due process for lawmakers to be involved in cargo clearing.
“Chairman of the committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena gave his words that all cargo clearance hitherto stalled with shipping companies due to the committee’s activities and correspondence will be allowed to be processed in line with extant regulations.”
The association noted that 10,000 jobs and N130bn have been lost as a result of the border closure.
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