Following the recent military takeover in Niger Republic, President Bola Tinubu has instructed the shutdown of all of the country’s land borders with the Republic of Niger.
Bashir Adeniyi Adewale, the acting controller general of the Nigeria Customs Service, announced this development on Friday. He stated that it was based on agreements made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the coup in the Niger Republic.
After touring Nigeria’s border facilities with Niger in Katsina State on Friday, Adewale told reporters in Jibia that the customs department is prepared to follow the President’s directive precisely.While noting that the implementation of the order would be 100 percent, the customs boss said they would work with other security agencies to ensure that all inbound and outbound cargoes in and out of Nigeria will not be allowed during the period of border closure.
As is well known, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a supporter of economic union in West Africa, according to him.
He has a strong belief that trading with our neighbors may benefit Nigerians and other inhabitants of the sub-region.
He has expressed this in words, which may have helped him become the leader of ECOWAS less than a month after becoming president of Nigeria.
“We are now dealing with a scenario that is unstable and unsafe.
“The state of affairs prevents the growth of trade.
“We are unable to do any significant trade given the ongoing unpredictability and unrest in the Niger Republic. Due to this, the ECOWAS decided to suspend and close all land crossings with the Republic of Niger under the authority of the Heads of State.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with other governmental entities, is in charge of carrying out the decision completely.
“After visiting a few border checkpoints, I was pleased with the level of compliance I observed.
“The Nigeria Customs Service participates in border drills with other security agencies, and they have been sent out to ask the border regions to carry out the implementation of the border closure order.”
The compliance has to be 100 percent which means that all in-bound and out-bound cargoes in and out of Nigeria will not be allowed during the period of border closure.”
