Lawal Ibrahim, Ibrahim Muhammad, Yola and Rakiya A. Muhammad,
15 November 2009
Katsina/Sokoto — Economic activities hitherto suspended at the Nigeria-Niger Republic border as a result of an unofficial sanction resumed last week in line with a Federal Government directive. Our correspondent who visited the Jibia and Kongolam border crossings at the weekend observed movement of goods and services in the area just as petty traders were allowed to move without hinderance.
A senior Customs official, who preferred not to be named, told our reporter that the Federal Government had only intended to restrict the movement of certain goods in and outside the Niger Republic but not a total border closure.
He said the government on Sunday last week directed them to suspend the sanction and allow free movement of legally accepted goods and services and at the same time withdraw the special monitoring team earlier stationed. According to him, business resumed fully last Monday. A truck driver, Ibrahim Hashimu who spoke to this reporter said many of his colleagues had resumed work while a few were waiting to collect fuel money from their masters to get back into business.
However,Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service have intensified border surveillance across the border communities with neighbouring Cameroun Republic, a situation that has brought business activities to a stand still. Some people at the border communities spoken to explained that in the last few weeks. Nigerian Customs officials had stopped trucks from crossing into Cameroun Republic, blocking all imports, including hides and skin and building materials.
Mallum Bello Jauro, a resident of Belel water side, one of the areas being used by importers as well as smugglers said, "we are facing difficulties due to the recent surveillance mounted by the customs officials, no truck transporting goods is leaving Nigeria for Cameroun. It is because of the Customs men of that country (Nigeria)." Goods being imported from Cameroun in the axis include hide and skins and rice while those exported are domestic appliances, second hand. At the Illela border of Sokoto, at the Nigerian border with neighbouring Niger Republic Normal business thrives. When Daily Trust visited the border posts at the weekend, people with goods in vehicles, and other means of transportation were allowed to pass to and from Niger Republic and Nigeria. The locals from both ends told Daily Trust that they had been carrying on with their businesses. They maintained that the sanction had not limited their business relationships. "We have not noticed any change, we have not observed any problem, we have been doing our business as usual", a businessman at illela, Alhaji Mustapha stated.
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