Neighbouring countries groan as Nigeria’s joint border patrol cripple their economies 

As a result of  Nigeria’s ongoing border security operatives tagged  “Operation Ex Swift Response,” a joint exercise aimed at securing the nation’s borders, importers of rice and other traders at Benin, Chad and Niger republic have started counting their losses across the borders.

They said the security operations, which eventually led to closure of borders across Nigeria, is hiting hard on their economies.

The traders, which include transporters, money changer (bureau de change) okada riders and other cross border traders threatened  that if the closure of borders continues, Nigerians, the Bennoise and Chadians may turn against their leaders.

Investigation revealed that already people in Benin Republic are not happy with their President Patrick Talon to have allowed  President Muhammadu Buhari initiate joint border security operation  to protect the country land and maritime borders without doing anything about it.

They said the two Presidents lack respect for trade agreements as the Beninoise, Niger and Chad importers could not transfer their cargoes to Chad through the closest border in the Northern part of the Nigeria because it is only from these border communities that transit cargoes from Benin can be moved to Niger.

The major worry of Nigerian traders was that since Wednesday, August 23 and up till now,  they have not been able to access  the  ancient city of Kano, which was described as the commercial center of the north to buy goods because of the tight security.

Speaking, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Seme border chapter, Lasis Fanu said businesses are at  standstill because nobody is making anything and Federal Government itself too is not making money, saying that government will lose more money since clearing agents could not do anything that will be remitted to Customs.

He said some perishable items, which include fish-head, butter, coconut cream among others have been imported and waiting for clearance before the security exercise took place.

Explaining the effects, he said: “the most important thing is the perishable goods nobody could do anything about. Some of these things, there is limit to days they can remain in one place. Coconut will break, butter will melt and the fish head will start to form maggot. It is just a sudden thing and nobody expected it.  The items are imported and duty has been paid for some of the goods.”