BORDER CLOSURE: Change your ways for a harmonious bilateral relationship with Nigeria, Obasanjo advises Benin Republic

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has urged West African neighbours Benin Republic to change its ways if it wants a better bilateral relationship with Nigeria moving forward.

Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia during a news briefing on the margins of Policy Dialogue of African Business Associations on Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreements.

According to Obasanjo who is the chair of the CoDA Board of Directors, Benin’s notoriety was not new, as Nigeria had for long been enduring the practice which undermined its economic well-being.

He said; “It happened when I was President of Nigeria. I called the then Benin President, Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo, to let us meet at any of our border posts over the issue.

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“We eventually met at Badagry (in Nigeria), where we agreed that Nigerian Customs would be stationed in Benin.

“They (the Nigerian Customs) are still there. We don’t have issues with goods manufactured in Benin — they are welcome.

“But as long as Benin allow dumping of goods, there will always be a problem with Nigeria,” Obasanjo said.

He also noted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was not created to allow one country to turn itself to a dumping ground.

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