By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, has ordered the closure of a key border route linking his country to Nigeria.
The closure affects the border between Taberu, a village in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and Tanu, its neighbouring village in Benin Republic.
According to local sources, the decision is part of the Beninese government’s crackdown on the informal trade of agricultural goods, particularly cashew nuts and soya beans.
Residents and local authorities in the affected areas say the closure has brought commercial activity to a standstill, with traders unable to move goods across the border as they previously did through unofficial routes.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Usman Umoru-Seriki, confirmed the development, noting that Benin authorities now mandate the transportation of these goods through legal routes only and with significantly higher tariffs.
“He only allowed the transportation of cashew nuts and soya beans through legal routes and imposed a higher tariff on these products,” the Emir said.
“This isn’t the first time President Talon has taken such action, he closed the border with Togo last year.”
An immigration officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the closure, emphasizing that it was strictly enforced to clamp down on unauthorized agricultural exports.
The move has sparked concerns among traders and border communities who rely heavily on informal trade for their livelihoods.
Nigeria and Benin share a long and often porous border, with cross-border trade playing a vital role in the local economies on both sides.
