- Over 53 checkpoints along Mile 2/ Seme border route – NARTO
Worried by the numerous bottlenecks posed inhibiting cross-border trade, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has deepened partnership the International Trade Center (ITC) to address the challenges, especially multiple checkpoints.
Both organizations made this commitment when a delegation from the ITC led by Associate Program Officer, Richard Eke-Metoho, paid a courtesy visit to the NSC headquarters on Friday.
ITC is a co-implementer under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Program which aims to improve intra-regional agricultural trade at border crossing points.
At the meeting, Associate Program Officer, ITC, Richard Eke- Metoho, said the visit was part of the team’s ongoing study to identify areas for improvement in trade facilitation, particularly at border crossing points.
Metoho equally lamented that female traders are fast becoming subject of sexual harassment along the Seme-Krake trade route.
His words: “We have had instances where women moving goods along the Seme-Krake trade route have been sexually harassed by security officials stationed at different checkpoints.”
“Officials of government agencies stationed at these routes in the border area sometimes ask for sex in exchange for allowing goods to pass. The situation can be that bad at the border areas for female operators.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) raised the alarm that between Mile 2 and Seme border, about 53 checkpoints abound.
The General Manager, Operations of NARTO, Okafor Stephen, lamented that the numerous checkpoints along the Mile 2/ Seme border affords state and non-state actors the opportunity to extort truckers carrying goods along the route.
In his remarks, Executive Secretary, NSC, Pius Akutah emphasized that trade facilitation is a major initiative of the Council and pledged to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the study.
He noted that the study will strengthen the Council’s ability to formalize informal trade at border areas, gather statistics, and plan for trade volumes.
The focus of the study is on agricultural products, which Akutah highlighted as a significant area of potential for Nigeria, not only in the African region but also globally.
“Trade facilition is one of the major aspect of what we do so we are going to give you the necessary support to achieve the success that is desired. The study will help us to plan and develop more skills in terms of what we do at the Border Information Centre. Shippers Council is a partner and I want us to take our partnership to the next level that will focus on engagement with our stakeholders, ” the NSC boss said.
