Presidency mulls re-closure of borders

The Presidency, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government is considering closure of four of the nation’s land borders recently reopened over the influx of bandits and small weapons.

It noted that it was studying activities at the host communities of borders, adding that the government may shut down the borders again if there is any “trouble”.

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Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, gave this hint while featuring on Channels Television’s morning show: ‘Sunrise Daily’.

The President’s aide noted that Nigeria’s neighbouring countries had not cooperated with the country to curtail the influx of bandits and small weapons, saying such was fueling the insecurity in Nigeria.

He stated, “This is why the president considered the closure of the land borders for much of this time until they were reopened a week or so ago.

“This country has been talking to our neighbours, asking them that they cooperate with us in order to stop this influx of bandits, weapons, drugs and trafficking of Nigerian women but the cooperation has not measured up to the expectation of the president.

“This is why he was forced by the necessity of the situation to shut down the borders.

“Now, we are reopening in the hope that the agreement we struck with them, that they will work hand in hand with our own security agencies, with our own customs, on a trial basis, because not all entry points have been reopened.

“It will be tried, if it works well, then others will be reopened. If there is trouble, then the government may have a rethink.

“It is the technical committee that will advise the government on how well things are working now that we have reopened four points out of the numerous that we have.”

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had on December 16 ordered the immediate reopening of the borders.

Those reopened include: Seme Border in Lagos State, Illela Border in Sokoto State, Maigatari Border in Jigawa State, and Mfun Border in Cross River State.

Nigeria had in August 2019 closed its land borders to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms and agricultural products into the country from neighbouring West African nations.