“We are very angry,” said Ahmadou Amadou, a Republic of the Niger trader who imports motorbikes for a living said. “The business sector is wasting away.” If the border closure continues, then we will be ruined, he added.

The last time this happened, back in the 1980s — and it lasted two years. And it was the same president, Muhammadu Buhari, who was responsible.

Buhari closed the borders shortly after he came to power. From April 1984 to February 1986 he kept them closed in response to the falling price of oil, a drop in exports and the smuggling of contraband.

In fact the border was only reopened after Buhari was toppled in a coup.

The recent closure of the borders by the Nigeria federal government is to curb smuggling activities from neighbouring countries.

Amadou Oumarou, another Maradi, Niger resident, said Niger government should sit down at the table with Nigeria and negotiate a solution.

Falling prices are hitting locally made products due to a lack of buyers in Nigeria, while the price of products imported from Nigeria is soaring, he said.

Some traders are selling their rice cut-price just to get rid of their stock, said Chaibou Tchombiano, general secretary of Niger’s union representing traders, importers and exporters.

“We used to sell a 100-kilo (220-pound) sack of cowpeas for 18,500 CFA francs ($30, 27 euros). The price has fallen to 17,000, even 16,000 francs, since the border was closed,” said cereal trader Haruna Moussa.

The impact of the closure is having a ripple effect reaching as far as the capital Niamey, 650 km away.

Nigeria Custom has vowed the border will remain closed until all neighbouring borders do something about the smuggling incidences from their country.

“Nothing crosses into Nigeria and nothing comes out. It’s hermetically sealed,” said Amadou Idi, sitting in a makeshift shelter to keep out of the rain, and reflecting on the downturn in his luck.

“We twiddle our thumbs and pray.”

Idi’s job is a transiting agent — to get goods across the border to Nigeria at the Dan Issa frontier post in southeastern Niger.

But he has been out of work since Nigeria dramatically closed its borders with its neighbours on August 20, declaring it wanted to put an end to chronic smuggling, according to AFP report.

Niger, which shares a 1,500-kilometre (900-mile) border with Nigeria, has been badly hit by the closure, along with Benin. Both nations are among the poorest in the world.

A long line of lorries from Niger and elsewhere in West Africa is stranded at Dan Issa. Some are full, some laden with goods. The drivers and their assistants sleep on the ground or in the cabins of their vehicles.

Continue Reading: http://lanrenews.com/border-closure-we-twiddle-our-thumbs-and-pray-%E2%80%95-niger-traders-cries/

U never talk anything ooo...just spew it out.

Clueless then and still clueless now.

It might not work then, but its currently working now

Change is inevitable

Hnmmm.

Who noticed that all of them bear the name ahmodou

Did I get the spelling right please ?

Best things to NIGERIA is BUHARI




If other pass leader has embark on this line, we will av been self sufficient in terms of production. And exportation... our farmers will av larger coast.

This man has sworn to bring hardship on Nigerians!!!!

Evil man!!!!

Our neighbors should commit to ending smuggling instead of crying all over the place like bush babies. We are ready to open our borders to trade but it must be legitimate trade and not smuggling.

The same way he destroyed the Nigerian economy in the 80s

FarahAideed:
The same way he destroyed the Nigerian economy in the 80s

Hate your president if you must, NOT YOUR COUNTRY.

You are seen everywhere supporting everything against Nigeria simply because Atiku lost an election. What the hell is wrong with you young man? Are you planning to live this way for the rest of three years? How are you gonna cope with such self made misery?

So smuggling is what you stand for now, simply because the policy is overseen by a government you dispise. How does smuggling grow one's economy?

You should be ashamed of yourself.

FarahAideed:
The same way he destroyed the Nigerian economy in the 80s

Wailing CEO... Wailing is now a profession

I was about to pack my oracle from the ground , it has started working

Is Buhari tormenting you ( Physically and Spiritually ) ..

No sensible national leader closes it's border against foreign trade except illiterate ones like we have in Nigeria.

Your exports are suffering because you want to stop smuggling?

luvinhubby:
No sensible national leader closes it's border against foreign trade except illiterate ones like we have in Nigeria.

Your exports are suffering because you want to stop smuggling?

sorry which export is suffering??

Is smuggling a legal way or I is what u mean by foreign trade??

OK guys enough of the hate


Reason buhari can't contest again


Abeg let just move on with our lives..

Even though I always hated buhari before..

It looks like it was our fate to be governed by buhari....
.
.

So guys let support him....

Buhari should keep the border closed abeg

ken6488:
OK guys enough of the hate


Reason buhari can't contest again


Abeg let just move on with our lives..

Even though I always hated buhari before..

It looks like it was our fate to be governed by buhari....
.
.

So guys let support him....

By 2023, nigerians will see suffering as blessing , poverty as enjoyment and being rich as curse. Nobody will open the border until 2023.

luvinhubby:
No sensible national leader closes it's border against foreign trade except illiterate ones like we have in Nigeria.

Your exports are suffering because you want to stop smuggling?

China did it ,America did it and many developed countries .go back to histories .

Buhari's wickedness is legendary, Nigerians need strong hands to push them out of thier petroleum comfort zone



..

if your fowl did not lay egg
BLAME BUHARI

If shit did not come out of your yansh in the toilet
BLAME BUHARI

If mosquito bite you at night,
BLAME BUHARI

if you couldn't sleep at night
BLAME BUHARI

If trailer is coming to hit you and you did not move an inch from the road
BLAME BUHARI

the man that you are blaming did not even say anything, he is just flexing and living his life


#PLEASEKEEPON #BLAMINGBUHARI

Eyah, Brexit of UK and Trumps border policy must mean UK and US are illiterates according to you

luvinhubby:
No sensible national leader closes it's border against foreign trade except illiterate ones like we have in Nigeria.

Your exports are suffering because you want to stop smuggling?

Buhari should never have been made president.

Benin Republic has a population of 12 million . But it was the worlds 5th importer of rice. In 2018, it imported rice worth US$996m.

Benin is also world's largest importer of used cars and second hand clothing. All with a population of 12m people.
Benin government gets the import duty from these goods.

98.2% of these imports into Benin are only on transit; their final destination is NIGERIA.

Nigeria is world's largest consumer of used cars and second hand clothing, and is also Africa's largest consumer of Asian grown rice.

That's just one source o.

Let's join hands and see a great Nigeria. It is possible.

NimrodEndOfDays:
Buhari should never have been made president.

Are you a smuggler?

[s]

solmusdesigns:
Eyah, Brexit of UK and Trumps border policy must mean UK and US are illiterates according to you

[/s]

[s]

solmusdesigns:





Buhari's wickedness is legendary, Nigerians need strong hands to push them out of thier petroleum comfort zone



..

[/s]

Dr ja vu

Afamed:

Are you a smuggler?

stop asking dvmb questions. What is the budget for education and capital projects. How can closing borders be more important than improving the funding for education and capital projects. I know you supported Buhari but don't allow sentiments becloud your sense of reasoning.

Buhari is a great leader posterity will judge you keep the good work.