The Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Tolu Odebiyi, has condemned the perceived special treatment accorded some firms to import and export items despite the current border closure.
He called on the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive policy based on objective criteria to allow other deserving businesses to apply for similar waivers.
He specifically described the recent exemption of some firms by the Federal Government from the ongoing border closure arrangement as unfair.
On Monday, an international media, Bloomberg reported that the President Muhammadu Buhari has granted approval to Dangote Cement to resume export across its land borders.
It added that Michel Puchercos, chief executive officer, disclosed this on an investor call on Monday.
Bloomberg also reported that “BUA Group and a gas company have received presidential approval to move goods across the land borders, Joseph Attah, the spokesperson for Nigerian Customs, said by phone from Lagos, without providing details. Rival Lafarge Africa Plc hasn’t received permission to export across the land borders, according to a company spokeswoman.”
Odebiyi, who has been fighting for the reconsideration of the stringent border closure policy since August 2019 when the policy was first pronounced, stated this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday.
He made his objection known to what he termed ‘selective exemption’ of a certain company from border closure when thousand of small businesses in his constituency had gone into extinction because of the Federal Government imposed land border policy.
Odebiyi said, “It is in fact a breach of the law, as contained in Chapter 4 Section 42 (1) of the Constitution.
“The section states that any law that gives preferential treatment to a particular individual, company or group is a breach of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“If you are going to relax the policy, then it should be across the board. We have companies in Agbara in Ogun State that are adversely affected and nothing is being done to help them.
“I think it is not proper to give exemption to one company to the detriment of others. What will happen to the other companies most affected?
“The duty of the government is to discourage monopoly and create an enabling environment for all genuine business owners to strive so that they can create enough wealth and reduce unemployment.
“A lot of our people are struggling economically. It is a challenge we all need to find a better way of overcoming.”
