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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: NIGER SANCTIONS IMPACT – Bala
HEADLINE: Sanctions Take Toll on Livelihood of Nigeria-Niger Border Communities
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Alhassan Bala
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: MAGAMA JIBIA TOWN, KATSINA, NIGERIA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson
VIDEO EDITOR: Gibson Emeka
ASSIGNING EDITOR (S): Betty Ayoub, Salem Solomon
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE(S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:27
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: For questions and final review, send it back to Africa Division’s senior editor, Salem Solomon, email: salemsolomon@voanews.com ))
((INTRO))
[[Trade between Nigeria and Niger has been halted because of sanctions due to Niger's July coup. In Nigeria, officials say they could lose over 200 million dollars in export trade. That’s causing some economic hardship for many communities on the border. Alhassan Bala reports from the border town of Magama Jibia, Nigeria.]]
((NARRATION))
For two weeks, Bilya Isa has been one of many drivers forced to park their trucks — loaded with goods — in Magama Jibia, Nigeria, near the border with Niger.
The continued border closure is due to sanctions imposed on Niger by the international community and the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, because of Niger's July coup. Nigerian officials say the closure could result in losses of $226 million.
[[Radio track: Isa says that he has spent almost 15 days at the border, and that the commodities he carries will spoil if the closure extends into next month. It will be a huge loss for both him and the owner. He says that he no money and that friends are providing him with food.]]
((Bilya Isa, Truck Driver)) ((Male, in Hausa))
“I have been at this border for almost 15 days. The commodities I'm carrying will spoil if the closure reaches next month. It is going to be a huge loss to us and the owner. I have no money with me right now; friends here provide food for me.”
((NARRATION))
The usual bustle in this community has been hindered by the insecurity in Niger and the sanctions that followed.
Abdulqadir Sani is a shop owner who sells food and basic supplies. He says some people no longer open their shops due to low demand.
[[Radio track: Patronage is at its lowest level, Sani says. Instead of shopping, people come to the shop to borrow money to eat. Some shops have been closed since the border closure, Sani says.]]
((Abdulqadir Sani, Shop Owner)) ((Male, in Hausa))
“Patronage is at its lowest level. I am not even talking about it because people come to the shop to borrow money to eat. Some shops have been closed since the border closure.”
((NARRATION))
Another shop owner, Muhammad Adamu, says the sanctions have caused commodities prices to skyrocket.
[[Radio track: Adamu says the cost of living has soared, and commodities prices have tripled. He says that the price of rice had gone up to about 3,000 Naira [$4.6] from 1,000 Naira [$1.3], and that the Nigeria border communities seem to be more affected by the sanctions than people in Niger he added.
((Muhammad Adamu, Shop Owner)) ((Male, in Hausa))
“The cost of living has soared. The price of commodities has tripled. For example, the price of rice had gone up to about 3,000 Naira [[nye-rah]] [$4.6] from 1,000 Naira [$1.3]. We, in Nigeria border communities, seem to be more affected by the sanctions than people in Niger.
((NARRATION))
Nigerian inflation has been rising for years and currently sits at nearly 23 percent. That is putting some commodities beyond the reach of the poor, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.
[[Radio: Malam Bala Salisu is the Information Commissioner for the border state of Katsina.]]
((Malam Bala Salisu, Katsina State Information Commissioner)) ((Male, in English))
“Government is doing all arrangements to ensure it makes life easy for the good people of Katsina State, particularly those along the border communities. Already government has purchased grains worth millions of Naira that are freely distributed.”
((NARRATION))
Bashir Adeniyi, Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service insists the border closure is worth the financial risk, given the security concerns.
((Bashir Adeniyi, Nigeria Customs Service)) ((Male, in English))
“Sometimes you also have to look at the other side of it and that’s the facts. For the economic relations to thrive, you also need to frame them within the atmosphere of
peace and security. And when this is absent, we may have no deal, so we must strike a balance between the two.”
((NARRATION))
With ECOWAS activating its standby force, residents of this border community are not only concerned about their livelihood but also their safety and security.
((Alhassan Bala, VOA News, Magama Jibia, Nigeria.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateAugust 16, 2023 14:08 EDT
BylineAlhassan Bala
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English
