Niger: N13bn lost weekly due to border closure – Northern traders beg Tinubu to open border

 Nigerianewslite

Northern traders have lamented the loss of about N13bn weekly due to the closure of borders in the region over the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic.

News Direct reports that President Bola Tinubu  had on August 4 ordered the closure of all borders with Niger Republic which the Nigerian Customs have now enforced. The borders include Jibiya in Katsina state, Illelah in Sokoto and Maigatari in Jigawa.

Addressing a press conference on the matter in Abuja, the chairman, Arewa Economic Forum Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata, said the economic consequences of the closure is becoming unbearable for traders, while urging the federal government to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi to allow traders bring in goods to the country.

“Since the order by the President to close all the borders with Niger Republic following the announcement of the coup, the consequences have been huge. Northern traders loss N13bn weekly.

“Trade between Niger and Nigeria is usually informal especially in perishable goods and only last year alone, it is estimated at about N177bn in goods and services like livestock and food items.

“Therefore, further closure of the border will be detrimental to the huge trade going on between these two countries.

“We hereby appeal to President Tinubu to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi state to enable traders bring in their goods into the country and empower customs to collect import duty thereafter,” he explained.

Also speaking, a trader and member of the forum, Hamza Saleh Jibiya, said since the closure of the border, about 2,000 containers laden with perishable and non-perishable goods have been trapped and cannot be cleared due to the closure

“The average value of a container is between $20,000 to $70,000 which in our estimation will be about N140bn trapped in those containers.

“The alternative which we appeal now is for the federal government to open the maje-illo border in Kebbi to enable us remain in business,” he added.

I Am Too Big To Have A Godfather, President Tinubu Was Begging Me To Be Minister - El-Rufai

Nigerianewslite

 I Am Too Big To Have A Godfather, President Tinubu Was Begging Me To Be Minister - El-Rufai

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and President Bola Tinubu

The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has said in a viral video that he is too big for someone to be his godfather.

In the video seen by Naija News on the internet, El-Rufai said he had told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on several occasions that he didn’t want to work with him.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said the incumbent President had been the one pressuring him to work with his administration but that he has repeatedly rejected the offer.

Naija News understands that El-Rufai said this while granting a brief interview to journalists recently.

“I met with Bola Ahmed Tinubu over ten times and told him that I do not want any government job. I do not want to work with him. He is the one pressuring me to work with him.

“I have been the one rejecting the offer to work with him. Wallahi tallahi billahi, I am too big for someone to be my godfather,” El-Rufai said in the Hausa language.

Recall that El-Rufai was one of the former governors Tinubu listed in his ministerial nominee list forwarded to the Senate weeks ago for screening.

However, El-Rufai was not confirmed by the Senate over alleged security reasons.

Earlier, a presidency source who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES revealed that El-Rufai was no longer interested in becoming a minister due to his current doctorate programme but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.

The sources said, “He also told the president that he needed time to focus on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands.”

The former governor is studying for a doctorate in public policy at the United Nations University, Maastricht.

Another insider also told the publication that El-Rufai suggested a new ministerial nominee, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, for Kaduna State, saying the President would find him helpful and resourceful.

Also, during the meeting, President Tinubu also told the former governor he received petitions critical to his ministerial nomination.

The President, however, demanded 24 hours of grace to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.

At that point, El-Rufai responded that he was no longer interested in being a minister since it appeared some forces around the President were scheming intensely to block his emergence as federal minister.

Recall that El-Rufai disclosed during his confirmation hearing on 1 August that Tinubu asked him to work with him on the country’s power problem.

According to him, the President had given a target of seven years for Nigeria to stop experiencing power outages in the country.

The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reportedly withdrawn his interest in President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial appointment.

Naija News learnt that El-Rufai lost interest in serving in President Tinubu’s cabinet after a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

Recall that El-Rufai visited the President a day after the Senate confirmed 45 ministerial nominees after a week-long screening and confirmation.

The upper legislative chamber, however, withheld his confirmation and those of two others, citing security reports from the State Security Service for the action.

The two others were a former senator from Taraba, Sani Danladi, and a nominee from Delta State, Stella Okotete.