It’s a region characterized by baobab trees and rich historical legacies, where locals converse in the Hausa language while fetching water from nearby wells. The village, situated precisely 15 kilometers away, boasts expansive plains that captivate the beholder’s gaze. The area is dotted with vibrant markets like the MaiAdua International Market, Maigatari, Garki, Daura, and Illela, showcasing the dynamic energy of Nigeria’s rural marketplaces. Notably, the markets feature intricately crafted calabashes, adorned by skilled artists, reflecting the cross-border economic activities thriving in these regions.
Along the Illela-Sokoto road, the landscape is defined by countless onion stores, emblematic of the region’s onion farming industry. However, the closure of the Nigeria-Niger border by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following political turmoil in Niger Republic has had profound repercussions on these communities. Alasan Jobi, chairman of the Horse Sellers Association at Maigatari International Market, laments the drastic decline in economic activity, citing a significant reduction in the number of sellers compared to pre-border closure times.
The shuttered borders have exacerbated rural poverty, leading to food insecurity and forcing many to resort to using illegal routes for trade. In places like Illela, banditry poses a serious threat to livelihoods, with incidents of cattle rustling and targeted attacks against traders reported frequently. In Kongolam, Katsina State, teenage boys engage in transporting goods to neighboring Maimujiya in Niger Republic, often using wheelbarrows along illicit pathways. Despite the risks, these youths persist in their endeavors, chanting “Damagaram, Damagaram” as they navigate the challenging terrain, highlighting the resilience and resourcefulness of border communities amidst adversity.
Illegal Routes
Sani Daura, using a pseudonym, a taxi driver based in Daura, reveals the existence of over 20 clandestine pathways connecting Kongolam to Maimujiya in Niger. He discloses the presence of eight checkpoints along one of these illicit routes, where security personnel permit the passage of wheelbarrow pushers and individuals from both nations upon payment of a fee. The fee paid could not ascertained by our reporters.
Shutdown of Bakeries
The closure of the border has dealt a severe blow to the viability of local bakeries in Daura, which previously supplied bread to Niger Republic. Alongside factors like the escalating costs of fuel and flour, the border closure has forced these bakeries to cease operations. The closure coincided with a surge in the exchange rate of the CFA, the currency of Niger, against the Naira, amplifying the financial strain on Nigerian traders conducting business with their counterparts in Niger. Consequently, frustration has mounted among border communities in Nigeria. The local taxi service, particularly those operating on the Kongolam-Damagaram route, has also been adversely affected by the border closure. Reportedly, 70 percent of youths in five local government areas within the Daura Emirate are now unable to sustain trading activities with Niger.
Transaction losses
“Prior to the border closure, my transactions amounted to as much as N10 million, but presently, I struggle to reach N2 million in a single market day. Maigatari thrives as a commercial hub, devoid of natural water resources and reliant primarily on seasonal agriculture. As partners with Niger, the border closure effectively confines us, akin to being trapped in a cage,” elucidates Mohammed Abdullahi, the secretary-general of the Donkey Merchants in Maigatari. He employs a metaphor to underscore the stark decline in the local economy attributed to the border closure.
Export of wood to Agadez (Niger Republic)
Ahamed Diddiri Ahamed, serving as both the district head of MaiAdua and the Galadiman Daura, sheds light on the extensive timber trade conducted across the border. “There used to be a thriving business of exporting wood from Nigeria to Agadez in Niger Republic, a significant enterprise where traders would exchange wood for salt,” he explains. “We would witness numerous trailer-loads of logs heading to Agadez from Daura. However, the border closure abruptly halted this trade, leaving many livelihoods in limbo.”
Ahamed underscores the economic repercussions of the border closure with statistical insights: “Approximately one-quarter of MaiAdua market visitors on market days hail from Niger Republic. Since the closure, this number has dwindled significantly. Traders from Niger can no longer bring their goods for sale, nor can they purchase goods from our market.”
He further emphasizes the devastating impact of the border closure on the local economy, stating, “Poverty has become rampant as a result of these sanctions. Many individuals have been plunged into destitution, with livelihoods disrupted across various sectors. The toll of this poverty is evident, affecting workers, traders, transporters, and food vendors alike.”