[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ompt. Mohammed Garba, Customs Area Controller, CAC, Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has said that regional integration is imperative for trade facilitation, as well as economic growth within the West African sub-region.
Comptroller Uba who was a participant at the just concluded knowledge sharing workshop for West and Central African regions on, ‘One-Stop-Border-Port, OSBP’, organised by Usaid, World Bank, ECOWAS, NEPAD, JICA, Japan International Cooperation agency and other development partners, commended the organisers for the initiative.
He explained that the workshop held at Atang Palace hotel, Accra ,Ghana, focused more on regional integration, trade facilitation and economic development for the sub-region. Responding to question on what Nigeria stands to gain from ‘One-Stop-Border-Port’ operations; he pointed out, “Nigeria is a member of West African countries seeking regional integration for easy movement of goods, people and services along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, just like that of East Africa. Therefore, Nigeria would derive a lot of economic benefits from regional integration, especially on legitimate trade across the borders”.
Comptroller Uba, stressed, “It would enhance trade facilitation, in order to boost economic growth and development in Nigeria and the sub-region at large”. He added, “Also, regional integration in West African sub-region aids the operations at Nigeria-Benin Republic joint border post”.