By Kenneth Jukpor
In a bid to boost intra-African trade, the African Association of Cross Border Trade has called for collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in the area of trade facilitation among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The partnership is also expected to lead to an expansion of trade in the West African sub-region as well as compilation of trade statistics on Cross Border Trade.
President of the Nigerian chapter of West Africa Association of Cross Border Trade, Agro-forestry, Pastoral, Fisheries products and Food, Mohammed Abdullahi made the call during a courtesy visit to the Council’s headquarters in Lagos recently.
Secretary of the association, Salami Nassiru elaborated on the purpose of the visit, which he said was to formalise trade in West Africa, minimize smuggling and promote the trading of ECOWAS products and generate statistics of commodities traded in the sub-region.
The Council’s Director of Consumer Affairs Division, Chief Cajetan Agu who received the delegation on behalf of the Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, assured the group of NSC’s readiness to begin the partnership.
According to the NSC Director, the proposed areas of collaboration are in line with the Council’s core mandate.
Chief Agu also revealed that the two Border Information Centres at Seme-Krake border and Jibia-Maradi border were established by the Council to provide on-the-spot assistance, enlightenment and trade information to cross-border traders.
This information was disseminated yesterday via a press release signed by the Head, Public Relations department, NSC, Rakiya Zubairu.
