The Acting Controller of Customs, Katsina Area Command, Comptroller Dalha Wada Chedu, says Jibia and other international border points in Katsina State have remained closed due to low level of compliance by residents with government’s directive.
Chedi said this during a customs/community consultative meeting held in Katsina on Monday.
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He said the level of compliance to the conditions set out by the federal government in order to reopen the borders as applicable in other places was poor and not encouraging in the border communities in Katsina.
“Part of the conditions for reopening borders is when the government considers a trade corridor as ‘safe’ after assessing the situation through different intelligence reports. Once a corridor is regarded as safe, the government will go ahead and reopen the border.
“But if it is regarded as ‘not safe’, no matter how important the corridor is economically, like that of Jibia, it is regarded as highly volatile, because people are inciting violence, and as such, the border will remain closed,” Chedi explained.
He therefore called on all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, business leaders, civil society organisations and journalists who attended the meeting to join forces in sensitising the public for Katsina to regain its lost glory in terms of inter-border trade.
In their separate comments, Katsina state governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Alh. Ibrahim Katsina; the emirs of Katsina and Daura, represented by their council members, commended the Area Controller for his effort in reviving the consultative forum, saying that it will go a long way in addressing misunderstandings between the customs and the general public due to the communication gap created over the years.
