We need a response now - NUTAG tells Nigerian govt

The Chairman of the Nigeria Electrical Dealers Association, Nnanna Joseph Njom has urged the Nigerian government to urgently address the continuous harassment of Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Mr. Njom made this known after the All Nigerian Community (ANC) submitted a petition to the Consular at the Nigeria High Commission, Minister Sylvanus Dauda.

Speaking to MyNigeria after the presser, Mr. Njom said he is positive about the line of action taken by the All Nigerian Community and The Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG) and expects a swift response from the Nigerian government regarding the issue.

“There is hope. I am satisfied at the moment, as long as we are now, it seems there is hope. I am satisfied and being a leader the approach that the union is using now, it is very satisfactory and I am sure it would lead us to a very good place, Mr. Njom told MyNigeria.”

When quizzed on how quick he expects the Government of Nigeria to act, he said that he expects a speedy resolution to the impasses, stating that further delay could deteriorate the worsening relationship between both countries.

“At this moment, it is not how quick, you should say how many hours. We talking of this minute, our government need to respond to restore this cordial relationship which has been existing decades before the independence between Ghana and Nigeria it needs to be restored immediately because we are like brothers and sisters, he added.”

On his part, President of the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG), Chukwuemeka Nnaji addressing journalists in Accra on his part said he is worried by the silence of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) in addressing the trade impasse.

“I want the two governments, [Ghana, Nigeria] to settle this trade impasse amicably and I am still worried and concerned why the ECOWAS President has not spoken at this point. There has been no official response from the ECOWAS Secretariat or Parliament and the Speaker of ECOWAS must speak now,” he stressed.

“I also want to stress that some of us [Nigerian traders] will like to go home and some of us are ready to go home. Ghanaians should stop harassing, intimidating and attacking us [Nigerians]. We thank them for the hospitality that has been shown to us over the years.”

He assured that all Ghanaians living in Nigeria will not be subjected to any kind of attack or intimidation just as they have.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Ministry of Trade has rejected claims of unfair treatment by Nigerian traders in the country during the enforcement of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) regulations on trade.

The GIPC law permits that the traders must pay the required taxes and other fees imposed on them by the authorities.