President Muhammadu Buhari has announced that the Nigerian Government is looking into reopening the land borders as soon as possible.
The President disclosed this in a social media statement after a meeting with the 36 State Governors. He said that the reason for closing the borders was to control the smuggling of weapons and drugs.
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On Tuesday, Buhari said, “In my meeting with State Governors today I explained that the closure of Nigeria’s land borders was partly an attempt to control the smuggling in of weapons & drugs. Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours, we’re looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible.”
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In my meeting with State Governors today I explained that the closure of Nigeria’s land borders was partly an attempt to control the smuggling in of weapons & drugs. Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours,we’re looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 8, 2020
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What you should know
- The country’s land borders were closed since August 2019 to curtail the smuggling of illegal drugs, small arms, food and agricultural products into the country.
- Since Nigeria agreed to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there have been talks of reopening the borders to commence trade with the continent.
- The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, revealed last month that the presidential committee set up to look into the matter had completed its assignment and recommended the reopening of the borders. She said the committee would soon submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari after which a formal pronouncement would be made on the matter.
- The announcement has been received with scepticism in some quarters. Cheta Nwanze, Senior Partner at SBM Intelligence told Nairametrics that the FG has taken the right step with the planned reopening of the border. However, he believes that the borders will not be opened, with the perceived contradiction that exists amongst government agencies on the border closure issue.
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