Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has expressed sympathy towards Northern traders who have suffered significant financial losses due to the closure of Nigerian borders with Niger Republic.
The closure has resulted in an estimated loss of about N13 billion per week for these traders.
The border closures were enacted following the imposition of sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Niger Republic.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the closure of all borders with Niger Republic on August 4, 2023.
As a consequence of this decision, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) closed the borders of Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto, and Maigatari in Jigawa.
At a press conference held in Abuja, Ibrahim Dandakata, the Chairman of Arewa Economic Forum, addressed the issue and highlighted the growing difficulties faced by traders in transporting their goods into the country due to the border closure.
Dandakata emphasized the enormous economic repercussions of the border closure, noting that Northern traders are losing approximately N13 billion on a weekly basis.
Reacting to this situation, Bashir Ahmad took to Twitter to express his solidarity with the affected traders.
He acknowledged the substantial financial losses incurred and pointed out that such conflicts and closures would never be a viable solution to the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic.
Ahmad’s post read: “Sympathizing with the traders that lamented the loss of about N13 billion weekly due to the closure of the Nigerian borders over the political crisis in Niger Republic.
That’s one of the many reasons why conflict, no matter how it may be portrayed, will never be a solution.”
Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, the chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, highlighted the unbearable economic consequences of the border closure on traders.
He urged the federal government to consider reopening the Maje-illo border in Kebbi state to alleviate the difficulties faced by traders in the Northern region.
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