Days after Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams raised the alarm over the ongoing ‘partial’ border closure by the Federal Government, the government is yet to respond to the claim, a situation which has fueled rumours about selective laws especially between Northern and Southern part of the country.

Speaking during the 2019 edition of the Olokun Festival in Badagry, Adams expressed worry over the closure of the Nigeria – Benin border,insisting that the closure of the border was suspicious, with huge implications on the entire Southwest.

The Yoruba leader, also lamented that the closure of the border will definitely affect the people in the South than any other regions.

“It is unfortunate that the Nigeria – Benin border had to be shut, however, the closure seems suspicious to me because the borders in the North still operate conveniently without anybody blinking an eye. This portends grave danger to us as a people because the economic implications of the border closure will largely affect us more in the southwest than any other regions.

He, however, urged the Federal government, to as a matter of urgency, re-open the border and make sure that the necessary arrangements are made to forestall illegal smuggling of rice and other valuables into the country.

” We can reduce the unlawful smuggling of rice and other items into the country. It involves proper planning and documentation from the Nigerian government and the officials, including the Immigrations and the Customs must be up and doing in ensuring that the law is effective.”

Iba Gani Adams also appealed to the southwest governors to join him in projecting the cultural identity of the Yoruba race to the world”.

His words, :” Through cultural festivals such as this, we can gradually begin to change the narratives. We can begin to project the image of our country positively to the world. Therefore, I am making a clarion call to all Yoruba sons and daughters to continually promote the policy thrust and development agenda of the OFF

“Together we must build our tourism potentials and provide opportunities for our people to explore the world, using cultural tourism as template for growth and development. It is also very important for all the governors in all the states in the southwest to invest in education and agriculture, in order to ensure quality education and food security.

“Our governors should also provide enabling environment for the creation of a bustling tourism sector that would see the southwest states becoming the nation’s destination of choice, and ensure the full exploitations of our mineral resources for wealth creation.”,he explained.

Also speaking on the border closure, Femi Falana (SAN), human rights activist said there is a need for Federal Government to open its land borders in the country’s interest.

According to him, the closure is inconsistent with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence and Establishment as well as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA).

Falana’s advice was contained in a paper on ‘Rule of Law, Good Governance and Economic Development’ delivered at the yearly conference of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Accra, Ghana.

In the paper, the former president of West African Bar Association (WABA) urged the government to ignore the endorsement of border closure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing it as a “deliberate design to weaken ECOWAS regional integration agenda.”

According to the senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the borders should be re-opened without any delay, as anything contrary portends serious repercussions for the country’s economy.

Neighbouring countries, he stressed, may retaliate by imposing a ban on goods from Nigeria by air or shut Nigerian businesses in their domain.

The paper read in part: “Instead of resorting to the unilateral closure of borders, the Federal Government should drag Benin Republic and Niger to the ECOWAS Court of Justice for breaching the ECOWAS Protocol by allegedly encouraging the smuggling of petrol, rice and other products.

“In the alternative, smuggling should be addressed like terrorism, which is being jointly combated by Nigeria and her neighbours.

“Nigeria should stop punishing law-abiding corporate bodies and citizens because of the criminal activities of a few trans-border smugglers.

The Federal Government should expose the smugglers by arresting and prosecuting them. The smugglers in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries are well known by the security agencies. Without official connivance, the crime of smuggling cannot thrive in the region.”

He commended the ECOWAS Court for protecting citizens’ rights.

“But member states should desist from disregarding the orders of the court. Other leaders should emulate President Nana Akuffo-Addo who has ordered the Attorney-General of Ghana to ensure compliance with all decisions of the court.

“The ECOWAS Commission should ensure that sanctions are imposed on recalcitrant member states in line with the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and the Protocol of the Community Court,” he added.

However, Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the weekend urged Nigerians to endure the high cost of commodities occasioned by closure of the country’s borders.

Osinbajo, who spoke at a town hall meeting as part of activities of the ongoing National Festival for Arts and Culture, holding in Benin, Edo State, said the closure of the borders was to ensure prosperity of farmers in Nigeria.

He explained that part of reasons the borders were closed was to get attention of neighbouring countries to take more seriously the policing of the borders.

He said other prosperous nations did not allow any country bring goods into their domains, but opted to grow what they eat.

The Vice President noted that smuggling discouraged local production and did not allow Nigerian farmers have access to market.

According to him, “Part of the reasons for shutting the border is the smuggling that has been going on. If we continue to allow the Chinese and others to continue to bring in all those things, we will kill farming completely and most of our people will not be employed.

“There may be some pains in order to gain. The countries of the world that are prosperous didn’t allow anybody to bring in anything to their country. They made sure they grow what they eat. I can assure you that very soon you will see a great deal of progress, you will see more of our own commodities coming into the market. If we allow our own people grow these things, our people will prosper. The only way our people can prosper is if we let them use the opportunity that they have such as farming, fishing and others.

In his response to Osinbajo’s appeal, Femi Fani- Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation said only southerners are feeling the brunt of the closure more as borders in the North are open.

The ex-minister, in a tweet on his official Twitter page, took on Osinbajo over his statement on the matter.

He wrote: “Nigerians should endure the pains of border closure”- @ ProfOsinbajo, Point of correction Mr. VP! You mean southerners should endure the pains of border closure. All borders in the north are open!”
https://www.independent.ng/politics-of-border-closure/

Boarder remain shut till IPOB smugglers repent.

No, They are playing Physics with it...

Aare that claimed that only Southern borders are closed.. Then why are the Nigerien lamenting or Niger's border is in southern part of Nigeria?

Enemy of the nation Dem.. The borders will remain closed until our Neighbours are ready to cooperate with Nigeria terms and conditions

Before nko,all regions are equal but some are more equal than the other. Lai Muhammad 2015

[s]

helinues:
No, They are playing Physics with it...

Aare that claimed that only Southern borders are closed.. Then why are the Nigerien lamenting or Niger's border is in southern part of Nigeria?

Enemy of the nation Dem.. The borders will remain closed until our Neighbours are ready to cooperate with Nigeria terms and conditions

[/s]
shatap