Border Taskforce Seeks NEXIM Bank’s  support  

Border Taskforce Seeks NEXIM Bank’s  support  
Hauwa Noroh Ali, Abuja

The Taskforce on Trade Facilitation in Nigeria has called for support and collaboration from Nigeria Export/Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) to facilitate trade between Nigeria and other West African States.

The chairman of the Taskforce, Mr. David Adejuwon, at a meeting with the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Ungwaga Orya in his office in Abuja, stated that the Taskforce had taken proactive steps to identify what constituted technical and physical barriers to movement of goods in the sub region.

Illegal checkpoints  

He said that the taskforce had confirmed reports that there were about 35 checkpoints during the day time and 50 checkpoints in the night from Lagos – Seme border. This, he said, was against the MoU on protocol that ECOWAS member countries signed to reduce it to 3 checkpoints.

In his words, “all these are impacting negatively on our image and our competiveness in the effort to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country.”

He pointed out that once the taskforce was able to remove those barriers in the border post, it would go a long way to facilitate trade between Nigeria and other African States.

Sought support 

Mr. Adejuwon on behalf of the Taskforce sought for the support of NEXIM Bank in the provision of surveillance vehicles, trade Facilitation workshop, sensitization and public awareness as well as disseminating and publicizing information on the operations of the Committee.

Earlier, the Managing director, NEXIM Bank Mr. Roberts Ungwaga Orya had pointed out that Nigeria had the biggest market in Africa and that there was need to reduce the multiple checkpoints militating against free movement of goods in the sub-region.

Strategic economic institution

He noted that Nigeria being a strategic nation in both economic and political Institution in the ECOWAS, there was need to explore the sub region market. Orya stressed that NEXIM Bank had started deepening payment system by supporting Nigerian Exporters.

Also at the meeting were representatives from Ministries of Commercial and Industry, Finance, Transport, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Shippers Council (Nig) Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) National agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC):

Others are Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) Nigeria Quarantine Services (NOS) Nigeria Police, Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Road Safety Corps.

Williams