The impact of banned import of items and the closure of borders by the Nigerian Government seems to have its toll on both the citizens and relations with other African countries as the Nigerian government has decided to open its border however still maintaining its position on the state of his some banned items.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed disclosed the reopening of the four borders after the 28th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber of State House, Abuja.
The minister made mention that the remaining ones will be reopened on or before Thursday, December 31 and noted that the ban on importation of rice, poultry, among others remained enforced despite the reopening.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service, these are the 26 items that remain banned from being imported;
Food items including Rice, Live or dead birds including frozen poultry, pork and beef, Bird’s
eggs excluding hatching eggs, Refined vegetable oils and fats (includes mayonnaise), Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, Fruit juice in retail packs, Cocoa Butter, Powder and Cakes, Spaghetti/noodles, Waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, but excluding energy or health drinks and beer and stout.
Bagged cement, Carpets and other textile floor coverings, Telephone recharge cards and vouchers, All types of footwear, bags and suitcases, excluding safety shoes used in oil industries, sports shoes, canvas shoes, Hollow glass bottles of a capacity exceeding 150mls of all kinds used for packaging of beverages by breweries and other beverage and drink companies, Used compressors, used air conditioners, used fridges/freezers, Used motor vehicles above fifteen (15) years from the year of manufacture, Ballpoint pens and parts including refills, Tomato pastes or concentrate put up for retail sale, Waste pharmaceuticals are also included.
The list also includes; Medicaments such as paracetamol tablets and syrups, Cotrimoxazole,
Metronidazole, Chloroquine, etc., Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing two or three of the fertilising elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, excluding organic fertilizer, Soaps and detergents, Mosquito repellant coils, Rethreaded and used tyres but excluding used trucks tyres for rethreading of sized 11.00 x 20, Corrugated paper and paper boards, excluding baby diapers and incontinence pads for adult use and exercise books.
The opening of borders is probably a way to ease the suffering from the effect of the long closure and also a means to foster better relations with neighbouring countries.
