BORDER CLOSURE: Igbo traders lament over their business destruction

Igbo traders have cried out over the untold hardship and destruction of their businesses occassioned by the closure of the nation’s land borders by the Federal Government.

 

The traders under the auspices of South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association stated this in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its President and Secretary General, Chief Gozie Akudolu and Alex Okwudili, respectively.

 

According to the traders, the Federal Government did not give notice for the closure to enable them bring in their goods on transit or in the high sea.

 

Appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the plight of millions of Nigerian traders and direct security agencies to allow traders with legitimate and wholesome goods to cross the borders, the traders said it was curious that it was only Southern borders that were closed while the Northern borders remained open.

 

The traders said the closure had adversely affected and literally killed trading across the federation.

 

The statement reads in part: “Customers who daily come into Nigeria from the neighbouring African countries to buy genuine goods no longer come because of the difficulty at the borders.

 

“Even the ones that came were not allowed to have their goods crossed over at the border.

 

“A visit to the various borders will reveal the volume of goods waiting to be crossed and the difficulty encountered by those foreign traders, who had even run out of money to keep themselves.

 

“The goods involved include amongst other items, motor and motorcycle spare parts, building materials, engine lubricants, locally manufactured electric cables, locally manufactured biscuits and confectioneries.

 

“Others are locally made fabrics and textile materials, locally made provisions and beverages and many other locally manufactured products that are positively impacting on the growth of our economy.”

 

The traders also pledged to continue to support the programmes of the Federal Government and policies meant to revamp the economy and place it on continuous growth.