Importers have lamented the high charges slammed on Nigerian-bound transit cargoes by the government of Benin Republic, making it impossible for them to bring in transit cargoes through the Seme land borders.
Written by Yusuf Babalola 3 days ago
Nigeria currently pays about CFA2.2m as charges on 40ft transit containers, as against CFA500,000 paid by other neighbouring countries to move the same consignment out of their port.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that cargo importation through Seme border has dropped by 23.09 percent in the first quarter of 2023 as a result of the retaliatory policies introduced by the government of Benin Republic on Nigeria bound import and export cargoes.
Also, export trade in the first quarter of 2023 compared to Q1 2022 dropped by 75,000 metric tonnes.
It was gathered that the drop in the period under review was due to Benin Republic anti-trade policies targeted at Nigeria in retaliation for border closure by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019.
