Reopening Borders to Dangote, Others, a Contravention of Community Protocols of ECOWAS—Amiwero
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) Mr. Lucky Ehis Amiwero has condemned the reopening of Nigerian land borders to Dangote Cement, BUA and others.
Michel Puchercos, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement revealed on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration had given the company authorization to export cement to Niger and Togo in the third quarter of the year.
The products would be exported with certain sequence of crossing at Ilela land border in Sokoto State and Ohumbe land border in Ogun State.
Speaking with DAILY TREND NEWS in Apapa yesterday, Amiwero, a seasoned customs agent said the decision was wrong and that it does not portray Nigeria as a serious country.
“It is not done, you don’t open borders partially for anybody, because the border is a legal entry point, you decided that you want to close your borders, but you are now opening it for some individuals, it is in contravention of community protocols of ECOWAS and it is selective, it is not in line with principles of good governance”
“There are three entry points; the seaport, airport, and borders, all of these have normal facilities like we have in other countries, if Nigeria is having a problem, what we do is to behave like the Americans”
“We have what is called Mutual Administrative Assistance which is a convention on Customs matters, so that other countries like Benin Republic and Nigeria can have the convention rectified so that both of them can trade across borders and take care of themselves”
“But for you to give some people preferential treatment is not the best for the country, everybody should operate in the best principle because the border is a trading place. It is not making Nigeria look like a country, it makes us look one sided” he said
While reacting to the recent burning of the headquarters of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the decision by Senate to render budgetary assistance to NPA, Amiwero said this may not be necessary since the property is covered by insurance.
“If we have insurance to take care of the NPA building, then we dont need the budget for it again, you cannot be double dealing, there must be a synergy to make things better” he cautioned
