President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, received the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Igbere TV reports.

Our State House correspondent reports that the delegation, which were drawn from Nigeria and other West African countries, were received at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking on the closure of the Nigerian border, President Buhari said the aim was to put an end to smuggling and dumping of substandard items from other countries into Nigeria.

He lamented the impact of fake drugs and foods on the Nigerian citizens, including how fake electrical items have led to fires in homes and loss of lives and property.

The president said since the border was shut, Nigeria has witnessed a significant drop in the volumes of counterfeit smuggled goods in Nigerian markets.

Buhari, who was conferred with "Grand Patron" of the association by the delegates, equally used the opportunity to thank the NACCIMA for the honour.

Read the full statement posted on his verified Twitter handle, @MBuhari, as obtained by Igbere TV.

Today I met with a delegation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Nigeria and West Africa. I assured them of our administration’s readiness to work with them to bring an end to smuggling and the dumping of substandard items in West Africa and on the continent.

It is regrettable there there are traders who simply do not play by the rules; who choose profits over patriotism, and
whose selfish practices in perpetrating smuggling and counterfeiting help keep foreign factories working while closing ours.

We have all heard stories about the dangerous and sometimes, fatal impact of fake drugs and foods on our citizens. We have also seen how fake electrical items have led to fires in homes and markets thereby destroying lives and property.

Most of these substandard and illegal items are smuggled through our land borders. After many years of diplomacy and aggressive regulatory oversight which yielded few results, we decided to close our land borders for a limited time to assess the impact of this measure.

Within a few short weeks since the partial border closures began, we are already seeing a decline in the volumes of counterfeit smuggled goods in some of our major markets across the country.

This validates our action as a Government when we insist that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement must not only promote free trade, but legal trade of quality made-in-Africa goods and services.

We will soon finalise the National Action Committee on the implementation of the AfCFTA. We expect the organized private sector to continue to support us in achieving a Free Trade Area that employs Africans to produce high-quality made-in-Africa products.

Let me also thank NACCIMA for the honour done to me with the investiture today as their Grand Patron. I will not let them down. Trade is central to our economy; we are a nation of traders,and have been for centuries. I will ensure that we continue to give the sector full support.

http://igberetvnews.com/980219/border-closure-buhari-receives-chambers-of-commerce-in-abuja-photos/

ok

we have yeared

Welcome development.....but when will you stop patronizing foreign hospitals as it also kills our health sector

The government should make the standard items like rice , live stock products available and affordable to the masses before embarking on this border closure. Abeg if this products are available then the need to bring them through the border will be fruitless. The government is not getting it right on this ! :

I will only take you people serious when you stop importation of foreign cars. Let’s patronize innoson

Mr. President.... swearugad the food items in your house are not foreign items.



Meanwhile,
Wana make very cheap calls to NIGERIAN numbers from anywhere in the WORLD??...super clear voice calls......check my signature

*Referrals is much appreciated.

If this is the kind of love you have for Nigerians please take it back and let us buy fake electrical appliances,fake drugs and substandard food stuff.
Like all those items doesn't end up in custom officers kitchen.
If the country was good we won't be buying tokunbo cars, shoes,bags,clothes,shoes etc.
In Nigeria if you are not born with a silver spoon then you most have used a tokumbo item.

Good

Are the borders in the north totally closed also?


You closed our borders yet, boko haram still procures amunitions.

Let wisdom prevail.

Just tie your goods to cows. Better yet....... let the cows swallow them and there won't even be any borders to cross. Be wise my friends.

Foolanitocracy::: government of cow by cow and for cows

Which president they talk so ? the last time I checked BuBu has travelled to NEW YORK

Mohammadu Buhari



What exactly does he know

Robot can be functional than Mr president

next level agenda,please buhari tell all your minister and governor to stop taking their children to study abroad,because we have enough public and private universities in Nigeria.Do you hear Mr integrity.

You closed borders to make smugglers richer. Ewu

SMH.

But north is open to smuggling

God bless you Mr. President, I just wish the boarder could shut for about 2 years or more so that we can look inward

Good one

W

Importation of any and everything has always been the bane of our economy. This should also be applied, to a reasonable extent, to sea shipping

Bouncingbabyboy:
Welcome development.....but when will you stop patronizing foreign hospitals as it also kills our health sector

When you start using your brain to type and not your .....

Close the damn motherfucki.ng border.... Nigeria rice is not good, nigeria rice get stone, blah blah, who come be Nigeria? No be all of us....

Ok