ECOWAS: Niger looks to Togo for easier access to the sea
Thursday, 15 February 2024 15:41 
(Togo First) - An official delegation from Niger was in Lomé, Togo, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The delegation met with Edem Tengue, the Togolese minister of maritime economy. They talked about transporting Niger’s goods via the port of Lomé.
Niger is a landlocked country. As such, access to the sea, via Lomé’s port, is crucial. Even more so given the possible reconfiguration of trade in the sub-region consequent with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s decision to exit ECOWAS.
"The sister Republic of Togo has already done a lot, and we thank them for it. Thanks to Togo, since July 26, the people of Niger have continued to be supplied," said Colonel-major Salissou Mahman Salissou, Niger's Minister of Transport and Equipment, at the end of the meeting. "However, several concerns were raised by economic operators through the Chamber of Commerce, notably the problem of processing at a certain level of the corridor and the security problem. Instructions will be given to subordinate structures to think things over. Many solutions will be adopted for the well-being of our populations.
In response, Minister Tengue said: It's a meeting that stems from the desire of our country's highest authorities to smooth the passage of goods through the port of Lomé for our brothers in Niger."
This means ‘"Ensuring that trade between these two countries is [..] as fluid as possible, thus contributing to the proper functioning of their economies."
During the meeting, both sides addressed an invitation to economists who would like to be more invested in the Lomé-Ouaga-Niamey Corridor. Edem Tengue, in this regard, suggested investing in a fleet that will help cut costs which can be "a little prohibitive”.
Besides meeting Minister Tengue, the Nigerien delegation visited the port of Lomé.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
