The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)has reacted to the recent threat by the Ghana Union of Traders to boycott Nigerian goods.
Recall that the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) had last week called on their citizens to boycott products that are imported from Nigeria, the regional secretary of the union, David Kwadwo Amoateng had said the Federal Government of Nigeria is not being fair to the foreign traders, which necessitated the call.
However, reacting to the threat to boycott Nigerian products, the Director General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yussuf said Ghana is only going through the pain that was not actually meant for them, he informed that Benin Republic is the main reason for closing the land borders, he added that if the Nigerian government could have its way, it will isolate Ghana completely for going against the laws and policies of the country.
According to him “Ghana is not the culprit here, they are just going through the pain that is actually not meant for them, Benin Republic has remained the main saboteur and the main culprit, the main target is Benin Republic, they have always gone against our laws and policies as far as smuggling is concerned, so if the government has its way they will isolate Benin Republic entirely, simply for this matter but the way it is, you can’t go over them to get to Nigeria.
He was however optimistic that with the recent diplomatic intervention between the two countries, the government of Nigeria will grant waiver for the Ghanaians to bring in their goods.
Meanwhile, the effect of border closure has started biting hard on businessmen and residents of Seme Border, as many of the boys who previously engaged in smuggling and bringing in of contrabands have lost their jobs and are now involved in pick pocketing, stealing among other unscrupulous activities.
Speaking to our Correspondent last week, the Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents at Seme, Mr Bisiriyu Fanu couldn’t contain his anger against the border closure, he said it has made many of them jobless, without consideration for many of them who engage in legal businesses.
“If they don’t want people to import through the land borders, let them reduce the bottlenecks and other challenges familiar with importing from the seaports. They should encourage people to come and remove some demurrages that are not supposed to be there”
But, the National Public Relation Officer of Customs, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah stated that smugglers turning to armed robbery will not make the government to open the borders, he said the borders remain close until the neighboring countries recommit properly to the strict implementation of the ECOWAS protocol on transit of goods.
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