FG exempts Dangote Cement from land border closure – Report

•As reactions trail report…

THE Nigerian government has allowed Dangote Cement to resume exports across its land borders, Bloomberg reports.

The medium quoted Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, as making the disclosure on an investor call in Lagos.

He reportedly said President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration gave the company authorisation to export cement to Niger and Togo in the third quarter for the first time in ten months.

Puchercos said the export was made possible “through authorisation given by this administration.”

According to the company’s chief, Dangote resumed land export with “restricted volumes,” and plans to grow the trade using the sea channels.

The border closure started in August 2019, shutting exports across the country’s land borders.

The government said the decision to close borders with neighboring countries – including Benin and Niger – was to curb smuggling and boost local production.

The decision, however, has negatively affected the country’s economy.

According to the value of the nation’s non-oil exports has declined by 11.1% in August on the back of the border closure.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trailed the government’s decision to grant a waiver to Dangote cement to.

The founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside, has lambasted the government for entrusting the country’s economy in the hands of few well-connected people.

Peterside, who took to his Twitter handle to express his disappointment with the government’s decision, said it is no- brainer to allow legitimate exporters and importers to move their goods across the border.

He said, “Allowing legitimate exporters and importers to move their goods across the border should be a no-brainer.

“ Why refuse everybody else and allow only one company(Dangote)?

“ This is why some of us argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favour of a handful of well-connected persons.”

Reacting to the government’s decision, a public affair analyst, Kelechi Deca, wrote on his Twitter handle, “If you want to open the border open it for all goods and services. Giving only Dangote Cement waiver is wrong headed policy.”

Frank Ejiofor wrote: “Some special treatment being enjoyed by Dangote: Tax waivers, Custom waivers, Special Forex rate etc. During Covid-19 lockdown Dangote group was allowed to operate unhindered and now they are exempted from the border closure. By the time Dangote refinery comes on stream petroleum products will be priced out of reach of ordinary Nigerians.”

In his own case Ayo Abdul said, We are not paying attention to this government, are we? It is the Federal Govt of the North (FGN).
Toks Ogunbiyi, a journalist reacted by saying,

“We are back to the FGN= Friends of the Government of Nigeria! I feel for those whose livelihoods have been taken from them, widows and orphans whose morsel of bread has been snatched from their mouths. But our God is still alive.”