Abuja – Nigeria and the Republic of Niger on Thursday agreed to collaborate on transit trade for greater economic integration of landlocked countries.
This was the focus of the discussion at the two-day workshop on facilitation of transit trade in Nigeria organised by the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in Abuja.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, said the workshop was organised to address the peculiar needs of landlocked sister states, especially Niger.
He noted that Nigeria and Niger Republic have had close ties arising from about 1,500 kms of contiguous boundary and strong socio-economic affinity, adding that seven states share boundaries with them.
He noted that economic growth depended on exposure to international trade and added that landlocked countries were constrained and needed to depend on coastal states for the movement of their merchandise.
He said that Nigeria, as a coastal state was saddled with the responsibility to provide an outlet to the sea for transportation of cargo of landlocked states in the conduct of their international trade.
“As a coastal State, Nigeria under International Conventions and Agreements as well as by virtue of the strong affiliations, has a responsibility to provide an outlet to the sea for the transportation of the cargo of landlocked sister states in the conduct of their international trade and this responsibility we take seriously.
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“This is the main reason for our gathering here today to discuss the transit trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic, ‘’ he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation recalled that in 2013, both countries discussed at the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission on the need to deepen trade links.
Kifasi, who was represented by Alhaji Danjuma Sheni, said transit trade appeared to be shrouded in secrecy, adding that many people often lacked the needed understanding to properly situate transaction in handling trade.
He said the objective of the sensitization workshop was to create greater awareness for all tiers of government and relevant stakeholders on freedom of transit by facilitating movement of goods.
Kifasi said the workshop was expected to proffer a lasting solution to the socio-economic challenges of landlocked sister states and also address the scourge of poverty and insecurity in the sub-region.
In his remark, Amb. Abubakar Abduljalili, the Secretary- General Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation (NNJC), said Nigeria placed high priority on the challenges faced by Niger in transiting their goods through Nigerian ports.
He said the bilateral negotiations had resulted in milestone achievements such as the Trade Mission of the Nigerian Port Concessionaires and Terminal Operators to sensitise Niger economic operators in Maradi in 2013.
He said the workshop would focus on ways of enhancing initiatives and make recommendations on how to remove hindrances to the free flow of transit goods.
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, said the council had always promoted the facilitation of the movement of Niger’s transit goods through Nigeria.
He said Niger was disadvantaged in terms of participation in international trade due to the lack of direct access to the sea, where 90 percent of global trade was moved. (NAN)
