The Association of International Trade and Investment Promoters of Nigeria (AITIP of Nigeria) has said that Nigeria’s closure of all its land borders has increased monthly revenue generation through Customs duty and exercise to reach N115 billion.

A statement by the President of AITIP of Nigeria, Prof Kabiru Dandago Isa, on Sunday in Kaduna, said it is the highest ever revenue generation by customs in the month of September, 2019.

He disclosed that the the closure of the border has also made the prices of locally produced goods such as rice, cassava grains to begin to appreciate to the advantage of their producers.

“This equally include those goods that were already brought through these borders but are still available in Nigerian markets such as the imported rice, small tiger battery cell, etc,” he said.

Prof Isa however noted that, no doubt that this act by the Federal Government has its consequences.

“The worse hit by this border closure are the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) whose survival depends largely on importation or exportation of goods such as ginger, sesame seed, among others, through some of these borders that are now closed,” the AITIP President added.

The Federal Government had announced the closure of all its land borders on August 18, 2019 because of what it described as illegal importation and exportation of goods into and out of the country.

These borders are in 102 local governments in 21 states of Nigeria. It is believed that doing this will compel all goods for import or export to pass through the ports (Sea/Air) of the country.

The Government further announced the closure of all petroleum filling stations within 20 km close to these borders to stop illegal trans-border sales of these products to the neighboring countries.

Prof Isa observed that the communities around these borders would have to travel a far distance to get kerosene, petrol or diesel for their daily needs because of the closure of filling stations in their respective areas.

He said the consequences of these are high cost of transportation which translates into high cost of goods and services around these borders.

According to him, “Most of the youth around these borders were in one way or the other engaged in legal or illegal importation or exportation of goods into or out of Nigeria.

“These young armies of youth are now jobless and more vulnerable to being brain washed into committing crime for their survival.

“Shops owned by Nigerians are being shut in Ghana and Benin as a response to these border closure making Nigerians in these countries lose business day in day out.

“The ECOWAS border protocols are diplomatic issues that can be resolved diplomatically with the neighbouring countries.

“The questions that keep coming from various quarters are: (i) is the total closure of land borders by the Federal Government the only solution to illegal importation or exportation of goods into/out of the country?; (ii) Are these borders really closed?; (iii) Do some of the actions mean the Federal Government doesn’t care about the livelihood of people living 20km around these borders?”

The AITIP President further stated that one of the cardinal objectives of the association is promotion and facilitation of International Trade and Investment within the globe through exploitation of contacts and connections.

He said that AITIP of Nigeria also facilitates trade and investment visitations to other parts of the world with a view to showcasing Nigeria and African’s Trade and Investment Potentials for possible collaborations and strategic alliances with legally sound International Traders and Investors across the world.

“In view of our standing, we deemed it necessary to look at the current situation and express our view points, as follows:

“Total closures of Nigerian Land borders for both legal and illegal importation clearly shows the Federal Government lacks the required readiness and political will to properly address the issue of smuggling in and outside Nigeria through these borders.

“It is our sincere view that Government ought to have looked inward with a view to strengthening and enhancing operational modalities of Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) and other security agencies around these borders.

“More NCS and other security personnel need to be deployed to the borders with modern apparatus and detective machines.

“These personnel are to be properly trained and motivated to have a patriotic mind-set to serve the country diligently.

“Unfortunately, the youth around these borders whose means of livelihood is illegal importation of goods might not even understand that what they do is a crime,” Prof Isa said.