Sources described the waterway as a longstanding route for local commerce between the West African nations.

In what appears to be a continuation of its sweeping border security operations, the Republic of Benin has extended its clampdown on borders by shutting down a key waterway that links Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Sources described the waterway as a longstanding route for local commerce between the West African nations.

The latest move, which involves the closure of a Beninese customs checkpoint along the water corridor, has disrupted the flow of goods traditionally ferried between rural communities in southwestern Nigeria and southern Benin.

SaharaReporters learnt that the waterway served as a critical artery for legal trade, especially in agricultural produce and household goods purchased from Nigerian markets and transported into Benin.

Local traders and residents in affected communities now face significant hardship as the once-functional trade channel has been officially sealed off.

“Border closure by Bénin Republic gets more serious as President Patrice Talon blocks the waterway linking to Ota in Ogùn state,” one of the sources said.

“This is a major way of trade between Nigeria and Bénin Republic.

“Most of the goods bought in Nigeria are taken through this route into Benin Republic legally. Bénin Republic even had a customs checkpoint on the water.”

“So now the Bénin Republic customs checkpoint is officially closed,” one of the sources added.

“It is getting clear that it is more political between Cotonou and Abuja than a security matter.”

While the Benin government under President Patrice Talon is reportedly closing the borders as part of a national security strategy, SaharaReporters learnt that critics, particularly opposition voices within the country, allege a deeper political agenda. They suggest that the continued trade clampdown may be influenced by French geopolitical interests in the region.

Opposition figures accuse Paris of backing President Talon in a long-term strategy to weaken Nigeria’s regional economic influence, destabilise the Naira, and pressure West Africa's largest economy to adopt the CFA Franc, a currency linked to the French treasury and used by several former French colonies.

“So, opposition believes to actually make this happen, French politics is to keep Talon in power after 2026 or organise a French coup d'état to put a military in power in Cotonou,” one of the sources said.

“To achieve this plan, France needs to block Nigeria from intervening in Cotonou after the coup d'état because Nigeria may want to unseat the military junta in Cotonou contrary to Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, and Mali, that were not French orchestrated coup.”

As Benin prepares for its 2026 presidential elections, some opposition leaders warn that France is manoeuvring to ensure Talon either remains in power beyond his current term or is replaced by a pro-French military regime through a coordinated coup d’état. The aim, they argue, would be to prevent Nigeria, its close neighbour, from responding to a possible unconstitutional transition in Cotonou.

“France sees Benin as its last stronghold in West Africa while African countries are looking at getting Cotonou on their side to keep West Africa trade and free movement alive,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters.

“With Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali increasingly leaning toward sovereignty and distancing themselves from Paris, France cannot afford to lose Cotonou. Opposition figures in Benin Republic see the current economic blockade as part of a broader geopolitical contest.”

Earlier in May, SaharaReporters reported that the Republic of Benin had extended it border security operations to the Sèmè and Owode borders in Lagos State.

Several videos obtained by SaharaReporters showed uniformed Beninese customs officers physically blocking road access at the border areas, further escalating tensions between the two West African neighbours.

This latest development came just days after the Beninese government shut down a key border route between Taberu village in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State and the neighbouring Tanu village in the Benin Republic.

The closure, ordered on Tuesday, May 7, 2025, was reportedly triggered by intelligence linking the area to illegal arms smuggling and the emergence of a militant group known as “Mahmuda.”

A local security source confirmed the initial shutdown, telling SaharaReporters, “The President of Benin Republic yesterday on the 7th of May 2025, closed the borders between certain villages, Taberu in Nigeria's Baruten Local Government Area (in Kwara State) and Tanu in Benin Republic, restricting the movement of goods and services.”

In a viral video circulated online, an anonymous narrator claimed that arms and ammunition were frequently brought into Nigeria from Parakou, the capital of Borgou Department in Benin, adding, “Parakou is the capital of Borgu state in Benin Republic. That is our state in Benin. We have a whole state. It is a business era.”

Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, for comments on the latest development were unsuccessful. However, in an earlier statement to SaharaReporters, he maintained that the routes being blocked by the Benin Republic were illegal.

“Information at our disposal shows that Benin Republic Customs blocked some bush path roads around Tabira, Tandu to Boyi, which link Benin Republic to Nigeria with the intention to protect local farm products (soya beans, cashew nuts, locust beans, maize and guinea corn, etc.) from coming into Nigeria through unapproved routes,” he said.

“It is important to note that these are actually unapproved routes. This is actually a repeat of what happened in Bukoro a few months ago.”