Dr Anthonia Ekpa, Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Federal Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday said that the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post (JBP) would enhance trade and revenue.
Ekpa disclosed this in a statement issued by Mrs Rose Ojeka, member of the Joint Management Committee in Abuja.
According to her, the JBP was funded by European Union through the ECOWAS Commission under the 10th European Development Fund Transport Facilitation to construct and equip the post.
She said that Nigeria and the Republic of Benin were the two beneficiary countries with Federal Ministry of Transportation coordinating as the focal point, alongside Beninois Ministry of Finance.
“The objective of the establishment of the ECOWAS JBP is to ensure better trade facilitation by combining customs clearance activities in one place in order to achieve economy of scale, simplify customs procedures.
“Increase cooperation and coordination of control to reduce trade and logistics cost, increase intra-regional trade and increase government revenues.”
Ekpa, however said that the JBP would improve cross-border cooperation, security and the sharing of information and resources between border control agencies.
According to her, the establishment of the JBP will reduce corruption and loss of revenue at borders, reduce delays and operating costs.
She said that the department coordinates the activities of the Joint Management Committee to ensure that the committee meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to the operation of the JBP.
The Seme-Krake JBP was handed over by ECOWAS to the two beneficiary countries on Oct.23 to commence operations. (NAN)
