Ohanaeze Ndigbo praises Tinubu regime for re-opening Seme border saying it will favour Igbos

OHANAEZE Ndigbo officials have commended President Bola Tinubu for opening Nigeria's borders with the Republic of Benin saying that the ere-opening of the Seme border in particular will end the strangulation of Igbo businesses.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration had shut Nigeria's land borders to end the practise of neighbours abusing Economic of West African States (Ecowas) free trade agreements. Benin Republic in particular was guilty of importing goods from China and them shipping them into Nigeria duty-free, exploiting the Ecowas free trade agreement, effectively flooding Nigeria with cheap Chinese goods.

Since assuming office on May 29, the current administration of President Tinubu has re-opened the borders in response to regional pressure. Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo secretary-general, commended President Tinubu and called for more promising government policies to better the lives of many Nigerians.

He said the decision to re-open the Seme land border signified the end of an era of political and economic strangulation of Igbo businesses in Nigeria. Fi9rthermore, Mazi Isiguzoro said Igbos expect more infrastructural development in the Southeast.

Mazi Isiguzoro said: “Ndigbo appreciates such promising policies that will boost economic development, create revenue for the government and has favourable impacts on the lives of Nigerians than political appointments that will not translate into any economic benefits for Ndigbo. The realities on the ground imply that Igbos need promising policies and infrastructural developments in the southeast from the federal government than political appointments.

“The federal government’s directives on the reopening of Seme border was received and it signifies the end of an era of political and economic strangulation of Igbo businesses in Nigeria. Igbos expect more promising government policies and infrastructural facilities in the southeast than political appointments.”

Ibrahim Musa, the director of road transport in the Federal Ministry of Transportation, revealed that the Seme border had been re-opened for the importation of vehicles. Speaking at an Ecowas meeting organised between Nigerian and Beninoise officials, he  revealed that the development followed complaints by freight forwarders operating at the border.