The Niger Republic has announced a new directive requiring that all goods, especially miscellaneous items originating from Nigeria, be unloaded and inspected at designated border entry points before being allowed further transit into the country.
This was contained in an official memo signed by the Director General of Customs for the Republic of Niger, Colonel Mohamed Yacouba Siddo.
“I have the honour to inform you that, for security reasons, all goods originating from Nigeria, particularly miscellaneous goods, must be unloaded and examined at the entry offices before any transit formalities,” Siddo stated in the memo.
According to him, the new policy aims to tighten border controls and ensure that potentially harmful or illegal consignments are intercepted before reaching local markets.
However, the customs chief explained that shipments accompanied by proper documentation from the port of discharge may be allowed to proceed without unloading, provided they are cleared at their final destination.
“Miscellaneous goods accompanied by documents from the port of discharge will only be unloaded at their destination or during customs clearance,” he clarified.
Colonel Siddo emphasised that the directive must be implemented without exception and instructed all customs officials to report any issues promptly.
“I attach great importance to the strict implementation of this instruction. Any difficulty encountered must be reported to me without delay,” he warned.
See the statement released in French below:
