Benin official pushes for stiffer penalties 

Indications are that Nigeria and its neighbouring West African country, Benin Republic, lose an estimated $3billion annually  to cross-border crimes, especially due to  activities of smugglers and unscrupulous businessmen operating across both countries.

According to a recent report by the World Bank on smuggling in Nigeria, about N1.45tn worth of different goods are smuggled into Nigeria annually through Benin Republic alone.

Top on the list of items being smuggled into the country include but not limited to rice,  frozen foods, textile materials amongst other fast moving consumer goods.

Expectedly, Nigeria had recently resolved to fully implement the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Benin Republic to tackle the menace.

The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, restated the nation’s commitment to curb smuggling at a meeting with the Ambassador of Benin Republic, Ms. Adjovi Paulette recently.

In a related development, the Senior Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, Benin Republic has impressed on the governments of both countries the need to put in place stringent measures to curb the activities of economic saboteurs whose nefarious activities could said to be having a rippled negative effect on the economy of both countries.

Tchane, who was guest speaker at the public presentation of the book, ‘Revolution of Accountancy Profession in Nigeria: History of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) by Omooba Olumuyiwa Sosanya’, noted during an interview on the sidelines that the quantum of revenue loss from the Nigeria/Benin corridor was significant enough to warrant urgent attention by all concerned about the progress and growth of countries within the sub-region.

The minister, who was represented by his aide, Abdulrafiu Yakubu, while acknowledging the close ties between both countries was however, quick to admit that there is room for improvement as far as plugging all loopholes responsible for dwindling revenue generation in Nigeria and Benin Republic respectively.

Specifically,  he said,  “There is need to set up a high-powered task force to tackle the issue of revenue loss because it is very huge.”

Expatiating,  he said,  “Instead of losing this revenue to the activities of smugglers and economic saboteurs,  let them pay for those goods.  It won’t be a bad idea if we set a different tariff on goods constantly being smuggled so that those involved in such nefarious activities would be forced to legitimise their businesses once it becomes almost unprofitable for them to smuggle. I think such a measure will go a long way in boosting revenue for both countries. “

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/nigeria-benin-lose-over-3b-to-cross-border-crimes-annually/

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Does Nigerian have boader?
I doubt, if Nigeria has secure boaders, how come Lybians keep invading the country every now and then?

S

It wouldn't be a bad idea. What is the happy medium though? The favorite smuggled items are either on import ban/restrictions list or have high tarrifs on them. The government government would have to make price of importing around same cost of local.

It won’t be a bad idea if we set a different tariff on goods constantly being smuggled so that those involved in such nefarious activities would be forced to legitimise their businesses once it becomes almost unprofitable for them to smuggle.

Thank God for smuggles, without them how many people can afford goods cleard by Nigerian custom?

Bump