Nigerian Customs rakes in N6billion daily due to border closure
- The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) says it is now raking in between N5 billion and N6 billion daily due to the border closure
- Customs also said the border closure had led to a 30 per cent drop in fuel hitherto supplied by the NNPC for local consumption
- Some Nigerians have, however, opposed the policy saying it is strangulating businesses
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) says it is now raking in between N5 billion and N6 billion daily from imports since the closure of Nigeria's land borders with neighbouring countries in West Africa.
This was disclosed by the NCS Comptroller-General Colonel Hammed Ali (rtd.) on Tuesday, February 18 at a forum in Lagos where he was represented by a senior customs official.
Prior to the closure of the border in August 2019, daily duty collections hovered between N4 billion and N5 billon.
The Customs boss also said the border closure had led to a 30 per cent drop in fuel hitherto supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for local consumption.
Source: Depositphotos
He added that the sums being realized from the ports would help the federal government provide more infrastructures and add fillip to critical sectors of the economy.
Ali also stated that before the border closure, NCS had engaged the customs of neighboring countries severally, drawing their attention to the need to comply with ECOWAS protocols on the transit of goods and persons.
Meanwhile, the closure of Nigeria's land borders by the federal government has prompted ECOWAS to set up a committee to investigate the issues surrounding the closure.
The committee is headed by President Roch Kabore of Burkina Faso who is expected to give a full report of the findings.
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Some Nigerians have, however, opposed the policy saying it is strangulating businesses.
It is a known fact that 50% of Nigeria’s official non-oil exports go through the land borders.
Timi Soleye wrote on Twitter: Insufficient thought was given to this border closure. It’s damaging Nigerian exports.
MRS exports lubricants manufactured in Nigeria to Benin Republic. Used to take two days by truck, now takes 3 weeks by ship. (The ship goes to Morocco first and then comes back).
Babanda Babanda wrote: The border closure by Buhari-led government will give France an edge in the West Africa. France will see it as an opportunity that it is there for the smaller States alienated by Nigeria.
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