POLITICS-WEST AFRICA: Dust Up Between Neighbours

By Toye Olori Reprint | | Print |

Toye Olori

LAGOS, Aug 13 2003 (IPS) - Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Beninois counterpart Mathieu Kerekou are expected to meet in Nigeria this week to resolve the issues that necessitated the closure of the Nigerian borders with its tiny western neighbour.

The decision to close the borders on Aug. 9 came just days after Nigeria scored high marks internationally for its role in ensuring the restoration of democracy and peace in two West African countries.

Last month, Nigeria played a prominent role in restoring President Fandique Meneze of Sao Tome and Principe to power after he was overthrown by a group of soldiers while attending a summit in Nigeria.

And, this week Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts in Liberia paid off as the embattled Liberian leader, Charles Taylor, began a new life in exile in Nigeria to save his country from further bloodshed.

But just two days before Taylor packed his bags and departed from Liberia, Nigeria shut down its borders with Benin over cross-border crime, including armed robbery.

Nigerian immigration, customs, state security and anti-border crime police unit are involved in enforcing the order to tighten the border.

”The government decision to close the borders is to drive home its concern over cross-border crimes such as armed robbery, smuggling and human trafficking. In spite of Nigeria’s policy of good neighbourliness . current realities of the new agenda of reform, growth and stability have now compelled her to close her borders with Republic of Benin with effect from Saturday,” said a statement from the ministry of foreign affairs.

President Kerekou had pledged to end the crisis during talks with his Nigerian counterpart, Obasanjo at the African Union summit in Maputo, Mozambique, in July. Nothing happened.

”Regrettably, after that meeting during which Kerekou appealed for time to tackle the problem, there has been an increase in the number of cross-border crimes and contrary to that promise, no noticeable action has been taken,” said the statement.

As a founding member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria says it honours the protocol on the free movement of persons, goods and services among the bloc’s 15-member states.

Nigeria and Benin are founding members of the Economic Community of West African States, which was established in 1975, to foster integration, peace and stability in the sub-region.

Yussuf Isiaka, spokesperson for the Nigerian Immigration Service, claimed the protocol was being undermined by Beninois to perpetuate crimes against Nigeria.

”The lawlessness at the borders was getting out of control," he said. "Nigerian travellers are harassed and their money extorted by Beninois touts supported actively by their security operatives."

These claims were denied by Beninois authorities.

In fact, trans-border crimes are rife between the two countries. Nigerians claim that criminals from Benin steal their vehicles and cart them away in a convoy. The criminals, they allege, often disappear into Benin side of the border, having good knowledge of the bush paths.

Incidents of arms smuggling, armed banditry and human trafficking along the borders have also been reported by security forces.

Recently, a jeep belonging to a high-ranking politician in Nigeria was snatched by armed robbers. The vehicle was found in the garage of a businessman in Cotonou, the capital of Benin, but the authorities there allegedly refused to allow the shipment of the vehicle back to Nigeria.

Statistics show that in the last three years more than 2,000 vehicles stolen from Nigeria were taken to Benin through the porous borders. ”Nigeria is ready to reopen the borders as soon as appropriate guarantees and concrete steps were taken by the people of Benin to address its security concerns,” said the ministry of foreign affairs.

Others believe Nigeria has overreacted. ”Though the measure is appropriate, it might affect bilateral relations between the two countries,” says Bola Akinterinwa, a senior researcher at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos.

But Segun Aribike, who used to ply the lucrative Lagos-Cotonou route, supports government’s decision to close the border. ”It is long overdue. I don’t understand why Nigeria took so long to close the borders,” he says.

”No government should allow armed bandits to invade her territory, kill her people and rob them of their cars," says Aribike.

A delegation from Benin, led by a senior minister, was in Abuja on Tuesday to arrange for a meeting between Kerekou and Obasanjo.

Remi Oyo, Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Media and Publicity said after the meeting that Nigeria will not tolerate anything that is detrimental to its security. ”Small arms and ammunitions are smuggled through Benin Republic into Nigeria more than from any of our neighbours,” she said, without elaborating.