ECOWAS Parliament bemoan low remittance of Community Levy

Parliamentarians across W/African countries bemoan Nigeria Border Closure

West African Lawmakers delegated to the ECOWAS Parliament has expressed worrisome concern over the land borders closure between the Republic of Benin and Niger respectively.

Ensuing from the reaction at the floor of the Plenary after the presentation of the Nigeria country report by Hon. Sodiq Ibrahim on behalf of the delegation, Parliamentarians raised that the closure of Benin and Niger borders should be reconsidered to accommodate other neighbouring country as contained in the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons and goods.

Taking over the floor, Hon. David Gbahoungba of Benin Republic said, “Let us be honest with ourselves, Rt. Honourable Speaker, argument that are put forth on why the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are not argument that hold water, it is political, and the interest of a group of people, it is nothing more or less.

“I did read in their report that Nigeria gave number of vehicles to Benin, and this is with a view to fight smuggling. But I can tell you for a fact that Benin fulfilled its obligations. As things stands, for the past four years, no vehicle come loaded with rice from Benin and cross over to Nigeria”.

Continuing he said, “the head of the Nigeria delegation just told us that Nigeria is experiencing challenges as a result of the border closures, and you would agree with me also that the Nigerian customs is unable to meet its targets, revenues have declined, and in the next few months will bring in the awake of a lot of worries as a result of the border closures hence a rethink is required”.

Similarly, Hon. Sekande Reine said, “In regarding the issue of border closure between Nigeria and Benin in particular, there will be need for the MPs from Nigeria to appeal for the reopening of the Border, we are part of the community, when one country coughs, the others will catch a cold. So I just want to say the border closure does have an impact on all the other member state especially my own country Burkina Faso, we wish to see a solution to this problem.

In same vein, Hon Clement Humado of Ghana said, “My special request to Nigeria, is that Nigeria should make open at least the Seme-Krake joint border post, which is a flagship project of ECOWAS supported by the European Union, where the customs of the two sides are supposed to jointly inspect”.

He continued “If this happens, that at least will provide a little relief to Ghana whose trucks have been stranded at the other side of Seme, because we have 46 products that have been approved by our ministry of trade and approved by the ECOWAS Commission and accepted by Nigeria NAFDAC and Standard Organization of Nigeria.

“I am not sure that those goods are in contention or defile the ETLS, but the action taken by Nigeria closes the door to all goods, and I think they should look at it again, as it is not only Ghana that is affected as Nigeria is also loosing as stated in the report. Humado added.

Furthermore, Hon. Salifou Sawadogo of Burkina Faso said, “I am speaking about this with a heavy heart regarding the border closure, I would say there is a challenge, we have as many as 35 Nigerian delegation to the Parliament, also our first deputy speaker is occupying a very high position in the Nigeria, and indeed he can be our spokesperson. 

“Nigeria is Africans giant, it is the first economic power of Africa, and the border closure is a hindrance to the relationship she has among other country” he added.

Reacting to the concerns of the MPs, the head of the Nigerian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase stated that “I want to believe that we are one member nation, respective colleagues, what might have been drawn out to you might not be the correct perspective, and I have my answers to give.

“First, we have a protocol, the protocol is very clear no country in the ECOWAS sub region is allowed to export into another country what he does not produce, meaning by our own actions, we want to be self-sufficient, we do not want to be dumping grounds, we want to encourage production and we cannot be servants any longer” Wase said.

He continued, “I believe as good citizens and MPs, we should encourage our people to be productive, what we call the super powers of the world, produces, have it stale for a very long period of time, after a while, they take it to our own countries, this is not acceptable to Nigeria,

“Since the closure of this border, Nigeria have started seeing some changes in terms of security, this borders have not just been used for the purpose of conduit, it has been used as channels of insurgent penetration, as illicit items are also smuggled in” he added.

“Be rest assured that the border closure is for our own interest and interest of all, it is a temporal closure and within this period, our country will get better and self-dependent” Wase concluded.