March 20, 2018

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello says good road network is an important factor that determines successful conduct of international trade along African borders.

Bello said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry on Tuesday, on the sideline of a workshop on “Trade Facilitation for Seme/Krake Border Agencies and other Trade Facilitation from Benin and Nigeria’’.

The workshop was organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with Borderless Alliance held at the Seme/Krake Border, Seme.

Bello said that the Federal Government was rehabilitating the road along the border to ease the process of facilitating trade along the border corridors.

“Transport is extremely critical to international trade as it impacts on the nation’s economy as the availability of such services influences the trading environment and competition of trading at the international market.

“The Federal Government in its bid to facilitate seamless trade in the recent past, issued an executive order on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria and this has gone a long way in resolving that.

“Also, road network is being rehabilitated to ease the process of transporting goods in and out of the country. So with all these, trade facilitation will be easy,’’ he said.

The executive secretary said council, which stood as an agent for economic development through intervention in cost moderation and cargo result would always play its part on inflationary trends in the country.

He urged Nigerians to adhere to the rules of legitimate trading.

“We have the tendency of always wanting to go through the back door and not follow the laid down rules when it comes to trading and this isn’t good in any way.

“Nigerians must always embrace legitimate trade because we must all join hands together to develop the nation’s economy,’’ he said.

Earlier, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mr Kayode Oguntuase, said that there should be a borderless part between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
He added that the borderless part would reduce the teething problems that were presently being witnessed.

“With a borderless part between the two countries, it would solve many problems like the multiple checkpoints, unauthorised road blocks and other challenges.

“Also, policies must be favourable to attract investors and some of the taxes must be reduced as this discourages many trade facilitators,’’ he said.

NAN reports that officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Port Heath Officials, Customs Licensed agents and other border security agencies attended the workshop.