Nigeria to strengthen cross-border trade with Cameroon, Chad
The acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has said the service will re-establish cross-border trade with Cameroon and the southern part of Chad across the North Eastern region borders.
Adeniyi said this when he hosted the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, in Abuja.
A statement made available to newsmen noted that Adeniyi also expressed readiness for the service to improve trade activities in the northeastern part of Nigeria.
“Moving forward, we will need your support to engage with members of the border communities in Borno, especially as the insurgency has been degraded. We will build on the good relationship that we have and leverage it to re-establish a good relationship with Cameroon and, of course, the southern part of Chad.”
According to the Customs boss, the measure will boost the region’s economy and provide jobs for the people in the state.
The CGC appreciated the long-time relationship between the service and Borno State Government in border security and humanitarian services.
He assured the governor of his administration’s commitment to engage with the military to develop new measures to assist in re-establishing the full structure of cross-border trade in the area.
Earlier, Zulum had congratulated Adeniyi on his appointment as the CGC.
“Let me, first and foremost, congratulate you on your appointment as the Comptroller-General of this vital organisation in this country. I also want to commend the NCS for uplifting the standard of living to the displaced communities in Borno and other parts of the northeastern region,” Zulum noted.
He applauded the service for distributing food and non-food items to the displaced persons in the state, which according to him, is alleviating the the difficulty victims of the Boko Haram insurgency face.
“I am here once again to solicit your support to continue distributing food and non-food items to the vulnerable people in Borno State.”
The governor expressed interest in liaising with the service to promote trans-border trade in the North-East, particularly in Borno State.
Punch/Hauwa Abu
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