Sautu Khalil-Al-Husariy

Benin Republic has a population of 11.80 million people. But it is the worlds number 6 importer of rice. In 2018, it imported rice worth $966m.Benin is also top on the list of world importers of used cars and second hand clothing. All with a population of just 11m people.

Well that is not the full picture. Near all the imports of Benin are on their way to Nigerian markets. Nigeria is the largest market in Africa for all cars,rice and second hand clothing.

The problem here is that all the goods passing through Benin to Nigeria are smuggled without payment of customs duties,adding zero value to the Nigerian economy.

ECOWAS charter allows for free trade between member states, but on goods produced within ECOWAS, not imports from other economic blocs.

Where foreign goods are entering a member country, the ECOWAS charter stipulates that the custom officials of transit country should es**rt the goods to the border and hand it over to the customs officials of the importing country. The problem with Benin Republic is that it collects its own custom duties and allow the people to smuggle the goods into Nigeria.

This is a clear violation of ECOWAS statutes and no nation can condone such costly infraction.

Nigeria has tolerated Benin for long and it is time to stop the malpractice if Nigeria's economy is to grow.

Nigeria has 70% of ECOWAS population and 60% of its economy. It is ECOWAS that needs Nigeria and not the other way round.

This kind of trading must play according to extant rules.

Aliyu Nuhu