By Steve Agbota
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has entered into partnership with the International Trade Center (ITC) to tackle the challenges impeding cross-border trade especially multiple checkpoints.
This commitment was made yesterday when a delegation from the ITC led by Associate Programme Officer, Richard Eke-Metoho, paid a courtesy visit to the NSC headquarters on Friday.
ITC is a co-implementer under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme which aims to improve intra-regional agricultural trade at border- crossing points.
Speaking during the meeting at the Council’s headquarters, Associate Programme Officer, ITC, Richard Eke-Metoho, said the visit was part of the team’s ongoing study to identify areas for improvement in trade facilitation, particularly at border-crossing points.
However, he lamented that female traders are fast becoming a subject of sexual harassment along the Seme-Krake trade route.
“We have had instances where women moving goods along the Seme-Krake trade route have been sexually harassed by security officials stationed at different checkpoints.
“Officials of government agencies stationed at these routes in the border area sometimes ask for sex in exchange for allowing goods to pass.
The situation can be that bad at the border areas for female operators,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of NSC, Pius Akutah, emphasised that trade facilitation is a major initiative of the Council and pledged to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the study.
He noted that the study will strengthen the Council’s ability to formalise informal trade at border areas, gather statistics, and plan for trade volumes.
He added that the focus of the study is on agricultural products, which is a significant area of potential for Nigeria, not only in the African region but also globally.
“Trade facilitation is one of the major aspects of what we do so we are going to give you the necessary support to achieve the success that is desired.
“The study will help us to plan and develop more skills in terms of what we do at the Border Information Centre. Shippers Council is a partner and I want us to take our partnership to the next level that will focus on engagement with our stakeholders,” he said.
