Cross-border traders have been urged to comply with import and export regulations, maintain proper documentation and use formal trade channels to avoid seizures, fines and harassment at border points.
The call was made during a training organised by the Adolescent Health and Information Projects (AHIP), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), for 50 female informal cross-border traders in Kano State.
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The training, held under the ROOTS Project implemented by AHIP in partnership with IOM, was designed to equip women traders with the knowledge and skills to conduct their businesses safely and sustainably.
One of the participants, Mariya Sani Abubakar, described the training as timely, saying it provided participants with essential information on avoiding irregular migration and complying with cross-border trade regulations.
She said participants were sensitised on the need to obtain valid international passports, yellow fever vaccination cards and other relevant travel documents to enable them conduct their businesses without fear.
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Mariya added that the training also taught participants how to distinguish business profits from capital and manage their finances effectively to improve the growth and sustainability of their businesses.
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She urged women to embrace legitimate businesses as a means of achieving financial independence and self-reliance.
Speaking on the training, AHIP Programme Officer, Dalhatu Bawa, said it was organised to educate female informal cross-border traders on the importance of following established procedures while conducting their businesses.
Bawa said some traders had lost their sources of livelihood due to failure to comply with relevant regulations, stressing that the training would help participants adopt safer and more organised business practices.
He expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would enable the traders to transport their goods to intended markets without fear while protecting their livelihoods.
The programme officer urged cross-border traders to desist from unlawful activities that could endanger their lives or expose them to unnecessary risks.
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He also encouraged them to ensure that their travel and business documents remained valid and to use recognised procedures when crossing international borders.
The training attracted 50 female informal cross-border traders from the project’s target local government areas in Kano State.
