By Favour Nnabugwu

The Taskforce on Trade Facilitation in Nigeria has said that the number of checkpoints between Lagos and Seme border contradicts ECOWAS protocol as signed by member countries in the region, just as it seeks support of NEXIM Bank.

Chairman of the Taskforce, Mr. David Adejuwon, said during a visit to NEXIM Bank in Abuja that the numerous checkpoints between the two countries should be reduced to three.

“There were 35 checkpoints during the day time and 50 checkpoints at the night from Lagos to Seme border.  This he said, was against protocol that ECOWAS member countries Signed to reduce it to 3 checkpoints”. Received by the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Ungwaga Orya, Adejuwon stated that the Taskforce has taken proactive steps to identify technical and physical barriers to movement of goods in the sub-region. All these are impacting negatively on our image and our competitiveness in the effort to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country,” he said.

Adejuwon pointed out that once the taskforce was able to remove those barriers in the border post, it will go a long way to facilitate trade between Nigeria and other African States. He said that the taskforce needs the support and collaboration of the bank in order to facilitate trade among countries in the sub-region.

He said the taskforce needs 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 operation of the committee.

The Taskforce comprises representative from Ministries of Commercial and Industry, Finance, Transport, Nigeria Customs Service (NSC), Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), and National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Others are Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Quarantine Services (NQS), Nigeria Police, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM admitted that the large number of checkpoints is uncalled for since Nigeria is the biggest market in Africa, as they militate against free movement of goods in the sub-region.