Acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has said Nigeria and Benin are strategically placed for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade relations.
Adeniyi, who was addressing stakeholders at Seme Border on Friday, said this is in recognition of the fact that the world is tilted toward strategic national alliances for preferential trade.
He argued that worthwhile trade relations between Germany and France in Europe; Brazil and Argentina in South America; Japan and Korea in Asia; among others, could be replicated in the West African sub-region between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
“We live in a world where preferential trade agreement will be the order of the day. This will determine how government will provide economic prosperity to its citizens.
“This means that people within the political block and geographical entities will trade with themselves under some frameworks like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalization Scheme which started over 30 years ago.
“While we are grappling with this, in other parts of the world, they have made significant progress and we have discovered that the biggest trade partners are those within a preferential trade area.
“If you look at Europe for example, the biggest trade partners are Germany and France. You will also observe that they are the biggest promoters of the European Union.
“In South-East Asia, Korea and Japan are the biggest trading partners. Although they trade with other parts of the world, they trade with themselves more”, he said.
According to him, modalities to achieve better trade relations whilst addressing the challenges bedeviling cross-border trade was the top issues for discussion when the Customs leadership from Nigeria and Benin Republic met on Monday.

He, however, added that the meeting between both national Customs bosses will guide the impending deliberations between Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Beninese counterpart, President Patrice Talon, in few weeks.

Adeniyi also stated that reopening of the nation’s land borders fully depends on the readiness of the local communities to corporate with Customs and other law enforcement agents in combating insecurity and smuggling.

“National Security is the business of every citizen and not security agents alone. Criminals live around us, those who carry arms and ammunition also live around us. You should help us with accurate intelligence reports to apprehend those involved in such practices.

“Policies on national security are supposed to be dynamic processes. That’s why some borders were opened recently. Security agencies need intelligence from the communities on the nefarious activities of smugglers, and to properly protect the border areas against illicit importations”, the Customs boss said.

Earlier, the Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, stated that judicious use of the border would lead to increased trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic with huge economic benefits for both nations, whoch boasts of a combined population of about 250million people.

Nnadi observed that the ECOWAS ETLS and the African Continental Free Tree Agreement (AFCFTA) were created to improve trade among countries within the sub-region and the continent, respectively.

He said they should also lead to the elimination of non-tariff barriers for unhindered market access for the countries.

“Among the trade blocs in Africa, the ECOWAS region has a population of 428.6million people and ranks second after East Africa with a population of 474.9million people.

“It is expected that the potentials inherent in this advantageous position will be translated to increased trade among ECOWAS countries, especially between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

“Sadly, ECOWAS ranks fourth at 10 percent when it comes to trade within the African continent. Southern African Development Commission with only 69.2million people ranks first in trading among themselves at 32.12 percent. Common Market for Eastern Africa at 20.32 percent and Community of Saharan Africa at 16.49 percent.

“This is an indication that ECOWAS region is yet to maximize the gains of the trade liberalization scheme. This also underscores the level of our limited preparedness for the AFCFTA,”, Comptroller Nnadi said.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos