The governments of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote seamless trade by allowing duty-free movement of goods and services across their borders and introducing a harmonised levy system at all points of entry and exit.
The agreement was part of a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop held in Calabar, themed “Unlocking Economic Prosperity in the Niger Delta Region: Facilitating Trade, Agriculture and Tax Policies.” The event was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) with support from OXFAM in Nigeria.
The workshop brought together policymakers, civil society groups, and private sector players to discuss strategies for boosting economic growth in the Niger Delta through trade facilitation, agricultural value-chain development, and tax reforms.
Stakeholders at the workshop urged political leaders in the three states to strengthen regional economic cooperation and remove barriers to doing business. They also recommended the harmonisation of tax policies, elimination of multiple taxes, and abolition of illegal levies and charges to encourage investment and trade.
It was further proposed that each state establish appropriate institutions and agencies to oversee the ratification and implementation of the MoU, ensuring strong legal backing and a robust policy framework for effective cooperation.
The tripartite partnership is expected to boost economic integration, ease of doing business, and shared prosperity across the Niger Delta region.
