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Without any doubt, Borno State remains one of the largest producers of livestock in the sub-Sahara Africa. Nevertheless, importation of cattle is a big business among Shuwas and Fulanis who have their kith and kin in the Diaspora. Over 2,000 cattleheads are reportedly brought to the state from the neighbouring countries for sale in other parts of Nigeria .

Geographically, the acclaimed Home of Peace and former El-Kanem Bornu Empire shares borders with three African nations. It has Cameroon on the eastern side, Chad and Niger Republics on the northern part. The state has a history of a long trade ties with these sisters black nations and the famous Trans-Sahara trade. It is, therefore, seen as the gateway to Nigeria. .

However, collection of duties on cattle and livestock brought to Nigeria from other countries by cattle dealers through the Borno axis of the international borders has been a subject of controversy for a long time, culminating in legal action between the Nigerian Customs and the cattle dealers. While the customs maintained that it was exercising its constitutional role as provided in its statute, Custom and Exercise Management Act Cap 84 Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the cattle dealers, on the other hand, claimed that the duties were unnecessary encumbrances to their businesses.

Categorised under Common External Tariff (CET), 2005-2006 section1, the law basically identifies collectable duties on live sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules and cows. Under the schedule, the customs harmonised system provides rate of duty applicable on the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of the imported animals.

As the disagreement over payment of the duty rages, the cattle dealers secured an interim order from an Abuja High Court in 2005 restricting the customs from collecting the duty on Nigerian livestock. The order was, however, set aside by another Federal High Court in Maiduguri, ending weeks of legal battle even as some dealers argued that the customs duties would strangulate their businesses.
Adamu Jato, a Fulani cattle trader, believed the duties would compel them to increase prices of their cattle. “You know beef is eaten in almost all the houses in the country and any hike in price by cow dealers will have effect on the prices down the ladder,” he told Daily Sun.

While the customs battle daily to persuade or sometimes compel the dealers to pay the duties, some powerful elements such as political office holders in the country and retired military officers have been fingered to be encouraging their people not to oblige. But a prominent retired army general in the state, Gen Mamman Shuwa, described the allegation as untrue, saying, “no responsible leader will encourage his people to evade tax or disobey the law of the land.”

There is also the problem of the influence of the third party who acts as middle men between the dealers and the sellers in the foreign countries. These people were alleged to be largely responsible for evasion of custom duties and by extension sabotage the nation’s economy. On the other hand, the historical ties of the state with the neighbouring countries made it almost impossible for the men of the customs service to differentiate between the Nigerian cattle and foreign ones.

The Kanuris, Shuwas and Fulanis share similar cultural ties with Niger and Chad, a development which encourages the natives of the two nations to move into the country in the company of their cattle unhindered. Daily Sun learnt that most Nigerian cattle dealers cash in on such movement to bring livestock into the country without paying the mandatory duties, hiding under the pretence of grazing.

The Borno/Yobe Comptroller of Customs, Barrister Aliyu Mahmud Bappa, described the activities of those who use grazing as subterfuge to evade custom duties on cattle at the border area as the greatest challenge which his men and officers face in the discharge of their duties. “Many of the cattle dealers use our people who live at the border towns to bring in cattle but they will tell you they have come to graze. Sometimes, it could be difficult identifying the differences between the foreign and Nigerian cattle. Somebody in a border village in Niger would just cross to Nigerian territory and claim he is taking his cattle for grazing. However, our men are equal to the task,” he added.

Both MiyettiAllah and Alhaya Cattle Breeders Association are responsible for the coordination of the activities of herdsmen as well as cattle dealers. The organizing secretary of Borno State chapter of Alhaya association, Alhaji Udaya Babakaka, said his men were ready to cooperate with the custom in ensuring peace and respect for the nation. “Only a few of our members are still opposing the duties but we believe that everything will soon be resolved. We are still holding talks with the customs in Maiduguri and all our national officers are doing everything possible to resolve the matter,” he disclosed.

But for Alhaji Muhammadu Seyoji, national chairman of Miyetti Allah Association (North East), the cattle breeders and dealers needed the understanding and patience of the Nigerian Customs. “I believe the conflict will soon be resolved,” he remarked. Whichever way, the nation’s law ought to be obeyed and anything to the contrary will, no doubt, leads to anarchy.