Business

Proliferation of checkpoints on Lagos-Seme road, other routes ‘ll frustrate trade, endangers AFCFTA – NAFFAC

Bakare

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Obstacles as proliferation of checkpoints on Lagos-Seme corridor in particular and other entry points across the six geopolitical zones has been identified as menacing transborder trade, frustrating successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement(AfCFTA), which Nigeria was a signatory.

The President, of the foremost freight forwarding group,

National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC) Prince Adeyinka Bakare made the disclosure in Lagos during a media perly anchored by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON).

NAFFAC expresses great worry that Nigeria businesses may suffer major setbacks if government fails to resolve the bottlenecks on the movement of goods from the entry points and international frontiers saying that Nigerian goods and services have potentials to compete favourably in the region if the federal government would facilitate trade.

Bakare expressed concerns over such multiple checkpoints manned by security agencies and touts alike, noting that the illegalities would further hamper foreign and local investment.

Bakare lamented that the association has engaged government at all levels in furtherance to tackling the illegalities along the Lagos Abidjan corridor.

Expressing that whereas other African countries have made trading easier and are tapping from the potentials inherent in the agreement, Nigeria has made intra-Africa trading cumbersome and currently at the short end of the benefits in AfCFTA.

According to him, there are only five checkpoints between Ghana and Benin noting that from Seme to Mile 2, Nigeria has no fewer than 50 checkpoints manned by operatives of the government which extort money from traders.

AfCFTA as part of its mandate is to eliminate trade barriers and boost intra-Africa trade, value chains, enabling investment and job creation.