Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential advisor, has expressed sympathy with Northern traders at the loss of about N13 billion that has occurred since Nigeria’s borders with the Niger Republic were closed.
Earlier, Anaedoonline.ng reported that several Northern traders have bemoaned the loss of over N13 billion each week as a result of the region’s borders being closed owing to the ongoing conflict in the Niger Republic.
Recall that on August 4, 2023, President Bola Tinubu issued an executive order ordering the closure of all borders with the Niger Republic in response to an ECOWAS punishment.
Coup: We Lose N13bn Weekly To Border Closure – Northern Traders
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has closed the borders of Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto, and Maigatari in Jigawa as per the president’s directive.
The Chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, Ibrahim Dandakata, said on Sunday during a news conference in Abuja that traders are finding it increasingly difficult to cross borders to bring commodities into the nation.
According to Dandakata, Northern traders lose N13 billion per week as a result of the border shutdown.
Ahmad responded on Monday by writing on Twitter that he felt bad for the traders who were losing roughly N13 billion per week as a result of the Nigerian borders being closed due to the political unrest in Niger.
No matter how it may be depicted, he claimed that one of the numerous reasons why conflict would never be a solution to the Niger dilemma is the loss of cash.
Niger: N13bn Lost Weekly Due To Border Closure – Northern Traders
Ahmad wrote: “Sympathizing with the traders that lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger Republic. That’s one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution.
“Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, said the economic consequences of the closure are becoming unbearable for the traders while urging the federal government to consider opening the maje-illo border in Kebbi state.”
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