Nigeria-Niger trade worth approximately $226.34 million is at risk of collapsing due to a border shutdown between the two countries.
According to The Punch, trade between both countries is being adversely impacted by the recent closing of Nigeria’s border with Niger as a result of a military coup that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum’s democratically elected government.
The acting Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, recently declared that some areas have become off-limits to visit due to the current circumstances in Niger.
He said that the Economic Community of West African Countries made the decision as President Bola Tinubu recently informed the Nigerian Senate that ECOWAS has produced a communiqué condemning the coup in Niger.
The letter stated, “Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivation of the border drilling exercise, cutting off electricity supply to the Niger Republic, mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communiqué; preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and out of the Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger, particularly from Lagos and eastern seaports.”
The border restriction was expected to have an impact on the $226.34 million trade between the two countries. The International Trade Centre estimates that in 2022, trade between Nigeria and Niger will total $226.34 million. Nigeria purchased products worth $33.43 million and exported goods to Niger worth $192.91 million.
Recall that Nigeria’s border with Niger and other neighbouring countries was partially blocked in 2019. Trade between the two nations decreased by 78.76%, from $85.98 million at the end of 2019, to $18.27 million in 2020.
