By Akinwale Kasali
For months now, Nigerians have been lamenting the Border closure by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Many had hoped and thought that the closure of the border would have been lifted by the Presidency, following the Presidency’s declaration that the border will be opened by January. But from the look of things, it is still a long walk ahead.
This has made the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, through its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, disclose that the continued closure of the country’s land borders is unsustainable as many genuine businesses are suffering, and some are on the verge of shutting down.
Ajayi-Kadir made this statement at the Stakeholders Forum on the Imapct of Border Closure on Nigeria’s Economy, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Center for International Private Enterprise.
He however stressed that though the Border closure, since August 20, 2019, has, no doubt, impacted the nation positively, but, it also has a negative impact on the economy which needs to be looked into in earnest before the issue escalates.
Other stakeholders and members at the event lamented that their businesses were suffering heavily and it is having a big toll on their finances
“Some of our members are complaining bitterly, especially those in food, beverages, tobacco industry, roofing sheets and those in paper production, because this border closure is having a negative impact on their businesses which needs to be addressed urgently by the President Buhari administration.”
