Nigeria’s representative in Benin Republic, Amb. Lawrence Obisakin, has advised Nigerians in Cotonou to be transparent in their dealings.
The ambassador particularly advised that Nigerian businessmen to always declare the amount of money on them before crossing the border.??
Obisakin gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday at the Seme-Krake Border Post.
He said that declaration of exact amount of money on them at border posts was appropriate and in line with “best practices“.
He said that the practice of declaring foreign currencies before entering into another country was a global phenomenon.
“Every Nigerian travelling through Seme Border must engage in currency declaration to allow for transparency.
“And Nigerian investors in Cotonou, the Benin Republic capital, should be transparent to improve the bi-lateral relations between us and their host country, “ he said.
He said that travellers who failed to declare the amount of money on them risked forfeiting 20 per cent of it to their host nation.
“Currency declaration will facilitate trade and the practice is in line with the Badagry Protocol Agreement and Joint Formation of Committee on Commerce.
?“It is specifically aimed at ensuring that transparency, security and co-operation existed between us and Benin Republic,“ he said.
He urged the Seme Border Command of Nigeria Customs Service to educate Nigerians on the procedure they needed to go through before passing through the border.
“Education is necessary so as not to allow Nigerians fall short of international laws.
“The border should be a bridge to unity and not to separate ECOWAS citizens,” he said. (NAN)