![A Nigerian man poses next to some rice in his shop at Ajara Market in Badagry, near Lagos, on 6 September 2019](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/E3AD/production/_109458285_rice_nigeriaafp976.png)
What prompted the move?
Mainly rice. It seems Nigeria was fed up about the flouting of its ban on the importation of rice over its land borders. Smugglers bringing in rice from Benin appeared to be making a killing. The biggest contraband route was between Cotonou, Benin's biggest city, and Nigeria's commercial hub Lagos, which is just a few hours' drive away. According to the World Bank, Benin's economy is heavily reliant on the informal re-export and transit trade with Nigeria, which accounts for about 20% of its GDP, or national income. And about 80% of imports into Benin are destined for Nigeria, the bank says. Nigeria banned the importation of rice from Benin in 2004 and from all its neighbours in 2016, but that has not stopped the trade.Why is rice so lucrative?
Nigeria is only allowing in foreign rice through its ports - where since 2013 it has imposed a tax of 70%. The move is intended not only to raise revenue but also to encourage the local production of rice. But smugglers have been taking advantage of the fact that it is cheaper to import rice to Nigeria's neighbours. According to the Nigerian maritime site Ships and Ports, in 2014 Benin lowered its tariffs on rice imports from 35% to 7% while Cameroon erased it completely from 10%.Rice import from Thailand (metric tonnes)
Neighbouring Benin then recorded an astronomical rise in imports from Thailand, the world's second-largest producer. At its height, each of Benin's 11.5 million citizens would have had to consume at least 150kg (330lb) of rice from Thailand alone. So it seems pretty clear that the rice was making its way into Nigeria to meet the shortfall in local production for a country of almost 200 million people. And Nigerians' appetite for rice is almost insatiable in a country where the grain is a staple. There was a time was when it was considered an elitist meal consumed only on Sundays. But now its affordability - plus the love for jollof rice - has made it a national dish.Is it just about rice?
No. Benin is also a major corridor for second-hand cars to Nigeria, where there is a ban on importing cars that are more than 15 years old.![Petrol from Nigeria being sold in Cotonou, Nigeria - archive shot](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/8DAA/production/_109466263_petrolafp.jpg)
How has West Africa been affected?
Many goods come in through the port of Lagos and are transported by road throughout the region by hundreds of thousands of lorries. Nigeria's immediate neighbours Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon - as well as Ghana and Togo have been hit by the crisis.![Map of countries surrounding Nigeria](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/3526/production/_109460631_mapnigeriaandco.png)
![Rotten tomatoes](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/82F3/production/_109332533_7c4f0004-ba95-49cf-8711-ce3ccff98441.jpg)
Is the move illegal?
The border closure goes against an agreement that guarantees free movement between the 15 members of the West African regional bloc Ecowas.![Seme border](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/AA03/production/_109332534_8bb626e3-b8df-4dfc-bc33-d020dd2199e7.jpg)
How has Nigeria been affected?
In the southern state of Rivers, some traders at the rice depot section of the Mile 1 market in Port Harcourt have packed up and gone home.![Rice shops that have closed in Port Harcourt, Nigeria](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/5041/production/_109354502_img_0121.jpg)
What happens next?
No-one knows. Nigeria has not said how long it will keep the borders shut to commercial traffic.![Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Patrice Talon](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/114A7/production/_109332807_770985a5-b172-4b15-9a1c-6013721fb18a.jpg)
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