… says it will boost trade on Abidjan-Lagos Corridor
Concerned with the growth of trade and investment on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, the Customs Area Controller of Seme Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Dera Nnadi, has called on the federal government to complete the highway from Lagos to Seme border.
Nnadi said this was necessary to boost trade, investment, cultural diversity and peace in West Africa and the whole of Africa.
The CAC made the call hduring the ECOWAS Monitoring Visit to Seme-Krake Joint Border Post between Nigeria and Benin at the Seme Border on Tuesday, June 21, 2023.
Nnadi who is also a Co-chair of the Joint Border Post said the “Abidjan-Lagos Corridor is an important corridor for trade among West African countries, a melting point where our people share culture and religion.
“It is a very important place where we maintain relationship and peace with ourselves. It is important to keep the corridor alive. We appreciate ECOWAS for its contribution to the growth of business in the corridor.
“While appreciating the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway, he said if the road is complete, it will improve trade.”
Nnadi called on Nigerian exporters/importers and other investors to take full advantage of the lift on the ban on export by the government and ensure that they obtain the necessary documents from the right authorities.
Speaking, the Head of ECOWAS delegation, Mr. Maliki Ashoke, Head, Road & Railways, ECOWAS Commission, said the essence of the visit was to take stock of all activities in the Corridor since the last visit over a year ago and hear the challenges being faced by operators – Customs, Immigration and others from both countries.
Ashoke observed that the weightbridge and scanners in the corridor were not used, saying the usage of the weightbridge and scanners is very important and officers from both countries should be present during scanning and weighing.