ABUJA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - West African countries have agreed
to conduct an investigation into the impact of Nigeria's
decision last year to close off its land borders to trade,
Nigeria's presidency said on Monday.
Nigeria has banned the import and export of all goods
through its land borders since last August as part of what it
describes as a campaign to tackle smuggling. Its smaller
neighbours, many of whom rely on trade with Africa's biggest
economy, have complained that this has caused severe hardship.
Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African
States agreed Sunday night to set up a committee "to study and
make a full report on Nigeria's land border closure with her
neighbours," said a statement from a spokesman for Nigerian
President Muhammadu Buhari.
There is no timeline for when the report is due, but it is
meant to be completed "as soon as possible," Nigerian Foreign
Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said, according to the statement.
Since taking office in 2015, Buhari has introduced policies
aimed at curbing imports and smuggling, to boost local
manufacturing. Buhari has also been trying to boost revenues
after a 2016 recession slashed income.
The move to shut the borders followed a decision in July to
sign Nigeria up to an African Continental Free Trade Area, a
project to create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc.