Nigeria's troubled economy: Country hit hard by sanctions against neighbouring Niger
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00:00 The Uwano market in Kano, Nigeria is the largest cereal market in Africa.
00:04 Aladji Ibrahim has recently rendered three-quarters of his staff redundant.
00:10 Before the border closure with Niger, some 50 handlers were preparing tons of bags of
00:15 beans every day.
00:16 But the Mejo have this major trader's business overnight.
00:20 "Honestly, we're all unhappy, both our customers and us, the suppliers.
00:27 We can't supply goods until we've received given orders, and they can't make profit until
00:33 we deliver.
00:35 So we're all stuck."
00:39 West Africa bloc Ekoa slapped a series of sanctions on Niger following a July 26 coup.
00:46 Abuchi Ume is a Nigerian wholesaler of household electrical appliances.
00:52 For over five years, more than 40 percent of his business has been in charge at Niger.
00:58 The embargo has had a huge impact on his regional sales.
01:03 He fears that the standoff between Ekoa's and the junta in Niamey would drag on.
01:08 "Even though I'm sure we can survive without Niger, but we do better with Niger.
01:15 Because no business would love to lose 30 percent of their customer.
01:20 It's something that you would not like to lose."
01:24 These two trucks have been stuck on the outskirts of Kano for several weeks.
01:29 The drivers are supposed to deliver their cargo to the south of Niger, in the Zider
01:34 and different regions.
01:36 Mainly non-perishable goods, already paid for by impatient Nigerian customers on the
01:41 other side of the border.
01:43 "We're stranded.
01:46 We're looking for a way to leave, but we can't.
01:49 So we have no choice but to stay.
01:51 It's better than getting to the border, where things are even worse."
01:57 Nigerians have suffered setbacks.
01:59 The Naira crisis, then the end of the fuel subsidy, and now the Niger border closure
02:04 could be the last straw for many traders in Kano.
02:08 Making survival difficult for tens of thousands of small businesses in this economic hub of
02:14 Northern Nigeria.
02:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]