“Why refuse everybody else & allow only one company? -Peterside slams export waiver to Dangote, Bua

Ebun Francis| The president and founder of Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, on Tuesday slammed the Buhari government for granting waivers to Dangote and Bua group to export products to West African despit closing the border to other businesses.

The founder of IBTC bank described the move as further proof that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favour of a handful of well-connected people.

Peterside’s reaction followed Monday’s comment by the managing director of Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, that the government had given them a waiver to export cement to Togo and Niger despite the closure of international borders.

In a Tweet via its verified Twitter handle, Peterside, expressed displeasure at the development and asked, “Why refuse everybody else & allow only one company (Dangote)?

”Allowing legitimate exporters & importers to move their goods across the border should be a no-brainer.Why refuse everybody else & allow only one company (Dangote)? This is why some of us argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favour of a handful of well-connected persons,” he tweeted.

It has also been learnt another firm Bua exported despite clousre.

“I have since learnt that BUA Group were also allowed to export goods through Nigeria’s “closed” land borders. FG should please accept that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. When will the FG consider small honest businesses that are not so well-connected?” Peterside said.

President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of all land borders to prevent the smuggling of arms, food items, and hard drugs into the country, in October, 2019, in an attemp to boost local production and increase the safety of the country.

The closure of the borders has however affected businessmen adversely, as they have not been able to export their products out of the country or supply neighbouring countries dependent on Nigerian products.

The federal government has not yet explained why Dangote was given a waiver, or if there are other companies given waivers like Dangote and BUA.