By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigerian Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) has described the Nigeria’s border closure as a sign of laxity on the part of security agencies manning the frontiers.
President General of NAFFAC, Prince Adeyinka Bakare, disclosed this in Lagos.
While faulting the Nigerian government’s border clossure, Bakare warned that neighbouring countries would also come up with their own plan, which may affect Nigeria’s economy negatively in the future.
Bakare however lamented that the nation’s seaports had failed to compete with other neighbouring ports in the West African sub-region and would possibly favour landlock countries if drastic actions were not taken.
He called on security agencies to harp on information sharing and gathering to rid miscreants and other negative elements within the border communities rather than shutdown the extreme part of the country.
The NAFFAC boss noted that government should embark on massive infrastructure reforms to boost and encourage international trade, adding that lack of conducive working environment still remains major challenge confronting port businesses.
According to him, Nigeria has failed to take advantage of its maritime resources to make and create wealth from landlock countries in the region.
His words: “On the issue of border closure by the government; we made it clear that the decision is not the best option for Nigeria’s economy.
‘‘It is a sign that our security system is not up to date because if you close the border for 10 years or there about, no doubt the neighbouring countries will feel the pain initially but I can tell you that they will work out modalities to come up with plan B.
“And at the end would boomerang against Nigerian economy. Mind you also, as we export commodities to countries like Ghana so also Benin Republic exports items to Ghana and Nigeria.
“Therefore the bilateral trade between these countries in the sub-region might abandon Nigeria and seek other alternatives or option to remain in business and international trade.”