Nigeria accuses Benin of being a drug trafficking hub : If the sheep's yard is dirty this...

The President of the Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a circular note to all banks in her country asking them to be vigilant vis-à-vis Beninese companies and citizens whom she suspects are numerous in drug trafficking.

Through this circular published on 6 May 2022, Evelyn E. Asuquo has ordered Nigerian financial institutions to classify Beninese as high risk people. “You are required to implement additional measures on customers and business relationships related to the Republic of Benin. You are also required to reclassify customers and related transactions as high risk and conduct enhanced due diligence procedures (ED) Consequently ", hammered the president of the apex of Nigerian banks.

It invited commercial banks to apply precautionary measures and to carry out preliminary investigations when opening accounts involving Beninese nationals and on transfers of funds to and from the Republic of Benin..

The reason for this stigma is that, selon Evelyn Esuquo, the Nigerian secret service has discovered that Benin is becoming a hub for drug trafficking. In fact, information known to everyone.

It is true that, more and more quantities of drugs are seized in Benin. As on the entire west coast of the African continent. But for as much, a proverb says that if the sheep's yard is dirty, it is not up to the pig to point this out, even less to criticize or take measures not to suffer the consequences of the lack of hygiene of his neighbor.

Indeed, on drug trafficking, Nigeria has no equal in Africa. A few days before the circular of the president of the central bank, the 3 last may, the National Anti-Drug Agency seized in Kano more than 2,3 million drug tablets. Meanwhile, the head of the anti-drug agency (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency -NDLEA) revealed that 40℅ of Nigerians from 18 at 35 years are “deeply rooted” in drug addiction and that the fight against drug trafficking in this country causes more victims than the fight against terrorism and banditry. He also asked political party leaders to block their drug-using activists when drawing up the list of candidates for the next elections..

The President of the Bank of Nigeria seems to ignore this gloomy picture in the face of which Benin and its citizens seem like true angels.

Pierre MATCHOUDO