Nigeria lists conditions to reopen borders with neighbours
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The first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Ahmed Wase, said Nigeria has started reaping the fruits of its temporary border closure.
He said this during the second ordinary session of ECOWAS Parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Wase said, “Nigeria has started seeing some changes in terms of security advantages.”
”Before the border was closed, terrorist-groups concealed their arms inside rice but the border closure has improved that security challenge,” he said.
Sadiq Ibrahim, who presented Nigeria’s country report on behalf of Mr Wase, also said ECOWAS has adopted Nigeria’s position on the border closure.
He said that Nigeria will not open its borders until neighbouring countries are ready to comply fully with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
Although it has been misinterpreted by neighbouring countries that Nigeria is trying to cripple them economically, Mr Ibrahim explained that Nigeria is trying to grow its local production.
He disputed comments made by some African countries who were bent on convincing Nigeria to change its stand. “In ECOWAS, we represent our people, not our presidents, this is a parliament of the people,” he said.
He further quoted that 75 per cent of Nigerians are into agriculture, ”and growing the agriculture industry in Nigeria means creating jobs for the unemployed in the nation”.
“The more you allow rice into Nigeria, the more you empower countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam,” he added.
ETLS

ETLS was created in 1976. It is what binds the ECOWAS member states together. It encourages entrepreneurial and economic development in member states.
However, according to the country report, the neighbouring countries have breached the agreement.
Most of the rice imported into neighbouring countries like Benin are exported into Nigeria, hence, turning Nigeria into a dumping ground for their exports.
Despite the ban of foreign rice through the land borders into Nigeria in 2016, rice still managed to find its way into the Nigerian market, curbing the profitability of local producers.
This, and the need to curb illegal importation led to the temporal closure of the land borders.
According to Mr Wase, ”as soon as the ETLS laws are enforced in the neighbouring countries, Nigeria will reopen its borders”.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/365541-ecowas-parliament-backs-nigerias-border-closure.html?

Border closure is not all about
financial benefits, atleast the
banditry activities have so far
reduced significantly according
to security reports, a times like
this economy could be secondary
issue, human life more valuable
than any thing!

I am hearing about the Ecowas parliament for the first time...

Let's do the right thing.

[s]

helinues:
I am hearing about the Ecowas parliament for the first time...

[/s]

Fear catch dem.
But come to think of it our border with Niger is not really closed. Buhari's ancestral people of Niger would starve if it was enforced like our border with Cameroon.

Ecowas.....was!

Ok

Nice one..

Good morning to all the good people that wish their nation well ...

Who Dy fool who? Dem tell una say as NIGERIA big reach other roads no Dy to follow? Na only borders bandits wan use get weapons?

Nigeria is Ecowas!

Who is ecowas if not Nigeria

I've heard of the Parliament, but where is it located? Is it open to the public?

To be sincere this decision to close border is a great one, though it hit some business men hard.

He disputed comments made by some African countries who were bent on convincing Nigeria to change its stand. “In ECOWAS, we represent our people, not our presidents, this is a parliament of the people,”


So the presidents don't represent the people, AFRIKA

Okay? �

You can only eat rice and chicken when you are in peace, under security challenge that you heard a gun shot you will forget that you never eat for past one week.

YINKS89:
Who is ecowas if not Nigeria

Just as USA is UN

Good one..even though I'm affected by the border closure, I'm fully in support of it if only the Nigerian government and her goons will also close and secure the borders on the northern part of the country too.

9jaunite:

yes now if Nigeria pull out wetin remain

Power is sweet

What's tha business?

YINKS89:
yes now if Nigeria pull out wetin remain

Nothing oo

Am not a STANDING FAN of this current government but I strongly commend the current annoying president on this. He really done well.

The border must be closed for 2years to enable the country pick up locally... With time I believe the country will be among top countries in export.

Kudos to whomever adviced the president on this ( which I know is not Lai Muhammad or onochie of a woman)

Lol b4 nko is ECOWAS not Nigeria?

Good

like for Good luck share for Buhari