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Nigeria, Ghana get partial truce on border closure
By Nsikan Ikpe
A partial truce of sorts may have been secured between Nigeria and Ghana on the vexed issue of border closure by the Nigerian authorities, The Difference has learnt.
Under the terms of the deal that was the outcome of a consultative meeting in Abuja recently, the Ghanaian authorities are expected to furnish the Nigerian authorities with details of the businesses from Ghana and the particulars of the goods they are bringing into Nigeria to help facilitate their clearance.
The Ghanaian delegation to the talks was led by Foreign Affairs and Integration Minister, Shirley Botchway and her Trade and Industry counterpart, Alan Kyerematen.
Nigeria had a few months ago closed its land borders with its neighbours as part of measures to curb smuggling.
The closure has since been criticised by many, including the Economic Community of West African States and the affected nations, with some of the commentators arguing that it threatens the fledgling African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
But in a defence of the move, Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed reiterated this week that the borders would remain closed until Nigeria is able to get the full cooperation of its neighbours to address the challenges that the country is complaining over.
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