Nigeria, Niger, Benin To Set Up A Patrol Team To Check On Smuggling Activities

Nigeria, Berlin, and Niger on Thursday agreed to set up a monitoring committee to keep a check on smuggling activities between the West African countries after months of border closure, reported Reuters.

The announcement followed a meeting by the Foreign ministers from the three countries where they discussed smuggling after Nigeria, which has Africa’s largest economy and biggest population, decided to close its land borders to trade until at least Jan. 31, 2020.

In August, the Nigerian government had launched a partial border closure to tackle smuggling of rice and other goods. Last month the head of customs confirmed that all trade via land borders had been halted indefinitely.

The joint communique from the meeting said the Benin and Niger delegations had appealed for the immediate re-opening of Nigeria’s borders.

A statement released after the meeting said that the ministers have agreed that a joint border patrol team comprising naval, customs, immigration and security officials from the three countries would meet on a later date to discuss and finalize a date for the opening of the borders.

The statement said the border patrol team would ensure people crossing their borders would display travel documents recognized by the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc. It was also agreed that the ministers of finance and trade from the three countries would set up a committee to promote intra-regional trade.

“The patrol team is to agree on the modality to carry out its operation and recommend a date for the opening of the borders,” said Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama. “The delegation of Benin and Niger appealed for the immediate re-opening of the Nigerian borders. In conclusion, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment in enhancing economic integration.”

The team will have its first meeting in Abuja on Nov. 25 and 26 and will later advice on the re-opening of the borders.