ECOWAS to Nigeria: Border closure will frustrate implementation of free trade movement

Moustapha Lo, speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament has warned that the border closure by the Nigerian Government is likely to hamper the implementation of free trade movement within the region. The ECOWAS Parliamentarian made this statement on Tuesday, while addressing parliamentarians at the ongoing 2nd extraordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Monrovia.

Recall that the Nigerian government had closed its borders since August as a measure put in place to ensure proper procedure for in and outflow of people and goods. The government also wants neighbours to agree with the protocols of transit routes.” The Speaker charged the government to reopen its borders and to find a permanent solution to the challenge of smuggling. Lo further noted that the closure happened at a time when Africa was working to intensify efforts for the effective abolition of barriers within the member-states. The ECOWAS parliament said the closure is a hindrance to the achievement of the regional bloc’s main objective, which includes “achieving the creation of a prosperous, borderless West African region where peace and harmony prevail”. “The ECOWAS Parliament calls for compliance with Community provisions and thus calls for the reopening of borders and a coordinated fight against smuggling in the region,” the statement said. “The root causes of this recurrent situation must be studied with a view to finding a permanent solution.”

Comments

MMA is a disgrace to Nigeria, the designer is a traitor – Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin writes VP Osinbajo

Oredola Adeola| Movie and Documentary producer, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin Dudu, has exposed the level of rot at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in an open letter written to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President. In the letter, the Documentary photographer, disclosed that the arrival system in Muritala Muhammed airport is a disgrace to Nigeria. He particularly noted that Nigeria has no aviation Minister, adding that whosoever designed the arrival system in MMA is a traitor. Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin He said, “Sir I’m directing my comments to you because I’m aware you toured that airport before the elections. They showed you the glittering lounges . However when you arrive in Nigeria or you go to receive someone arriving, it’s a horror story. It’s a total disgrace. Let me explain. “I had cause to go and welcome someone coming in from the US. We parked in the designated car park. Then the obstacles started. The path you have to trek to get to the front of the arrival hal...

2019 Hajj: Six Nigerian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

A middle aged woman, pilgrim from Lagos State, slumped and died in the early hours of Sunday morning in Mecca during the devil stoning ritual at Jamarat Aqaba, outside Mina, thereby bringing the number of Nigerian pilgrims that have died in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia to six(6). The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria confirmed the death of the Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia . Dr Ibrahim Kana , Chairman, National Medical Team, released the figure in Madinah from the commission ’s National Medical Team Electronic Health Medical Records. The Commission had earlier said, “ So far , Nigeria has lost six pilgrims including four females and two males ; out of which one died in Madina while the remaining four died in the city of Makkah. “ They all died of various illnesses including heart and lung diseases. “ Records shows that so far in both Makkah and Madina , we have made 10,485 diagnoses with Makkah accounting for over 60 per cent. “ Additionally , 108 referrals wer...

6 more Abidjan returnees confirmed positive for Corona virus

Oredola Adeola Six(6) more Ivory Coast returnees to Ejigbo, a town in Osun State have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 20 . Osun State, Commissioner for Health , Dr Rafiu Isamotu has confirmed to pressmen that all the 127 returnees had been tested and 18 of them had returned positive. Ealier, TheEditorialsng reported that Twelve(12) out of 127 Osun State returnees from Cote D'Ivoire heading to Ejigbo, a town in the state, have tested positive to the Corona virus . With the new development the number of positive cases in Osun has increased and have since been kept in the quarantine, while others who are in isolation are being tested. Investigation by our correspondent shows that some of the returnees in isolation had earlier played host to a few relatives under the cover of the night, which further raises the concern that more pesons may have contracted the deadly virus. As at 12:30 pm on 1st April, Osun State now trailed...

The Editorials

Search This Blog