The closure of Nigeria’s land borders in five states bordering Chad and Cameroon has had negative effects on the economies of the two countries, the local media reported Wednesday, quoting Nigeria’s Ambassador to Chad Abdullahi Omaki.
“The volume of trade, largely unrecorded (with Chad), is about 80 per cent in favour of Nigeria. Most of the goods and services coming into Chad, 80 per cent come from Nigeria with less than 20 per cent coming from Cameroon,” the Ambassafor said.
He added: “If the borders were not closed and you go through the Banki and the Gambo roads you will see the number of trailers that are plying those routes on a daily basis.
“Now that the border has been closed with effect from the end of last year, if you ask the Cameroonian authorities, they will tell you how much they are losing in terms of revenue that they collect from these vehicles that pass through Banki and Gamboru.”
Last year, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan ordered the closure of the contiguous borders in the northern states of Borno, Yobe, Niger and Plateau when he declared a state of emergency in 15 local government areas in the states, as part of efforts to curtail the violence being perpetrated by the Islamic sect Boko Haram.
