How Multiple Transit Levies, Lack Of Infrastructure Hinder Trade Among ECOWAS Countries, By Traders
By Sulaimon Salau
Traders along the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) corridors have lamented the multiple barriers that are hindering smooth trade across the land borders of member states.
Some of the barriers were listed as: multiple transit levies; poor enforcement of ECOWAS protocols; lack of Infrastructures, weighbridge and scanning, among others.
A report of the exhibition and enlightenment programme held in Saki Oyo State, which was obtained by Slye News, also revealed that overloading of trucks; lack of Custom connectivity along Lagos Abidjan corridor with some countries; and lack of trade information available for the traders in the areas of national policy, local policy and international policy are major factors obstructing smooth trade.
Among the stakeholders at the forum include: The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (NASME), Manufacturers of Nigeria (MAN) Export Group, Small, Medium Enterprises (SME’s) Export Group, and Export Merchants among others.
The report signed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Alsana Global Nig Ltd, Salami Nasiru Alasoadua, revealed that there is no harmonizing of trade policy among ECOWAS member states as the Value Added Tax (VAT) varies in Nigeria 7.5%, Niger Republic 19%, other French speaking countries 18%, Ghana 15%.
The forum proffered solutions to the challenges, calling for formalized export and competitiveness.
Alasoadua stressed the need for governments to resolve the problem of electricity, Insecurities and Roads.
He called for creation of Cooperative Export Village (Export Specialized Group) for raw materials in order to add value on export products.
He also called for creation of Domestic Cooperative Villages and ensuring that means of transportation is linked to transport goods across the six geo- political zones and ECOWAS member States.
Other proposed solutions are: “Creation of cargo distributing Centers and Transit Park for proper made-in- Nigeria Goods. Nigeria Export Promotion Council should facilitate data collection across at loading points for proper identification of product being exported to ECOWAS Members State and Nigerian neighboring countries.
“Nigerian Shippers should use the border information centers to sanitize Nigerian Shippers on various trade policy along ECOWAS corridors and countries that share borders with Nigeria.
“Single guarantor of goods in- transit from loading point to the final destination; Single tracking and custom connectivity, Custom bonded warehouse at Border post,
Scanning and custom connectivity between the custom command offices to Custom station at the borders,” he stated.
The exhibitors include: Paint vendors, Sellers of cosmetics, MoMo PSB representatives and Alsana Global Ventures Nig Ltd.
