FG uncertain on Jan border reopening

Joint patrol with neighbours yet to start

The federal government said yesterday it is yet to decide the date for the reopening of Nigeria’s land borders.

The government had in August closed the country’s borders with Niger, Benin, Cameroon and Chad in an exercise code-named ‘Operation Exercise Swift Response’.

The action also led to joint border operations by a combined team of Nigerian security agencies which was

greeted by mixed reactions from some stakeholders.

Importation of foodstuff, including rice and other consumables had been banned, while illegal export of petroleum products was met with stiffer sanctions, including stoppage of supplies to communities located 20 kilometres to the borders.

Different government officials had initially hinted the likelihood of reopening the borders in January.

But speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and

Investment, Hajiya Mariam Katagum, said the federal government had not taken a position on when exactly the borders would be reopened.

Instead, she said Nigeria had held strategic meetings with Benin and Niger to reach an agreement on modalities for reopening the borders.

She said one of the fallouts of the meeting was the setting up of a joint border patrol team made up of security personnel from customs, Air Force and other security agencies.

The minister said the decision to reopen the border would be based on recommendations from the patrol team, on whether Niger and Benin republics have complied with trade protocols.

“We had the strategic meeting with the three countries and what we agreed with our neighbours is to activate a joint border patrol comprising the customs, all the security agencies and ensure compliance with the actual protocol laid by ECOWAS.

“The committee met on November 25 and it is only when that committee is certain that all the countries are respecting the ECOWAS protocol that they will recommend the day for the opening of the border,” she said.

President Muhammadu

Buhari was quoted to have said earlier in November that the borders would be opened on January 31, 2020.

But later in December, he said the closure would remain until the situation improved.

Buhari said his administration’s directive on the border closure was meant to curb smuggling, especially of rice, and that so far, the closures had saved the country huge sums on import bills.

He said his administration was betting on the same measures to rekindle the country’s agricultural rebirth.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Colonel

Hameed Ali, had also said the borders would not be reopened any time soon.

“The issue of 31st January is an operational programme. What we do in operations like this is that you set time for logistics and other tactical requirements.

“So, the issue of 31st January is not a terminal date. If all these things are put together and we reach an agreement, we could even relax all these things before the 31st of January. So, it is not sacrosanct, but it is not a terminal date. We can also surpass January 31st and still hold on to what we are doing,” he said.