President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the world that his government is yet to establish any date for Nigeria Borders reopening. This emanates as a result of news going round that Nigerian borders with her neighboring countries specifically Benin and Niger Republics will be reopened on January 31,2020.

The President further stated that the border closure situation would remain until the there’s a physically noticed change.

Remember how ngg.ng reported that the Nigerian Federal government had closed her borders with neighboring West African countries since August. The government further explained that the border closure was a measure to stop the illegal movement of people, dangerous arms and smuggling of food items especially staple foods into the country thereby boycotting the payment of necessary levies or duties.

This situation the government said has also affected revenue generation in the borders resulting from smuggling.

He also stressed that is to ensure we have total control over what comes in.”

In October, Comptroller General of Nigeria Custom Service, Hameed Ali confirmed the border closure.

This was the first official confirmation of a full border closure.

Yesterday been Monday, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that since the closure of the Nigerian borders, that the Nigerian Custom Service generates #8 billion daily unlike the daily #4.5 billion daily, when the borders were open.

According to Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Spokesperson, the President said this when he received a delegation of Katsina State Elders Forum in his home in Daura, Katsina State.

“Two months into closure of Nigeria’s land border to curb smuggling activities, especially rice, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is betting on same measure to rekindle the agriculture sector.”

The government’s directive will save the country billions of naira on import bills.

Receiving a delegation of Katsina State Elders Forum at his country home in Daura, the President said the country’s domestic fuel consumption had dropped by more than 30 per cent, following closure of land borders.

The President commended the actions taken by the President of Niger Republic, Muhammadou Youssoufou, including the dismissal of officials and a ban on use of the country as a dumping ground for Nigeria-bound smuggled goods.

President Buhari noted that the measures taken by the President of Niger were helpful and supportive.

President Buhari acknowledged the hardship of border communities following the ban on sale of fuel at stations 20 kilometres to the border, a restriction that also saw to the closure of all fuel stations in his native home, in Daura, Katsina.

President Buhari had not given any date for the reopening of the land border between Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republics until the situation improves.




https://ngg.ng/2019/12/03/border-closure-buhari-says-no-date-yet-to-reopen-nigerias-borders/#sidr-nav


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