FG closes borders with Niger Republic, says decision in countries’ interest
The Federal Government has issued a directive on Friday for the immediate closure of all land borders with Niger Republic.
According to the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCoS), Bashir Adeniyi Adewale, the policy, is in the best interest of both countries.
Adewale, who was at Jibia Border, Katsina State, to monitor the level of compliance, explained that the Federal Government has directed stakeholders in the border management to ensure total compliance.
He said, “As we all know, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a champion of economic integration in West Africa. He believes so much that trade with our neighbour can bring prosperity to Nigerians and other people within the sub-region.
“He had demonstrated this in words and deeds. This might have contributed to his emergence as Head of ECOWAS within a month of his emergence as president of Nigeria.
“Now, we have a situation in our hands where there is instability and insecurity. This situation does not allow for trade to flourish. We cannot have any meaningful trade in an atmosphere of insecurity and instability that we presently have in Niger Republic.
“That is why the ECOWAS, through the authority of the Heads of States, had taken the decision to suspend and close all land borders with the Republic of Niger.”
Adewale added that the Service has deployed officers and men attached to the joint operations team in the form of the border drill to implement the policy across all porous borders.
