- Media has reported that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is acting as an intermediary between President of Benin Patrice Talon and Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari to revive discussions on the closure.
- Muhammadu Buhari unilaterally announced the closure of the land border without first informing the Beninese government
The border between Benin and Nigeria was closed since August 2019, disrupting the movement of people and products. Media has reported that Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is acting as an intermediary between President of Benin Patrice Talon and Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari to revive discussions on the closure.
Muhammadu Buhari unilaterally announced the closure of the land border without first informing the Beninese government. The the justification given by the Nigerian authorities then was that they wanted to end the massive smuggling between the two countries, particularly of rice, while Abuja has embarked on a rice development program.
According to sources, Aliko Dangote invited the Beninese ministers Romuald Wadagni (Economy) and Aurélien Agbénonci (Foreign Affairs) to a meeting to discuss this thorny issue and even provided them with a private jet, to travel to Lagos.
The Pandemic put a standstill to the discussions. Dangote was a strong advocate of stern action against Benin. The mediation indicates a change of attitude of the Nigerian tycoon. The closure of the borders affected the cement exports from the Dangote group to Benin. The group also complained of sugar smuggling into Nigeria which affected their business.
