NIGERIA GOVERNMENT SET TO REOPEN LAND BORDERS.
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Zainab Ahmed, The Minister of Finance Gave Assurance of Reopening of Nigeria Land Borders Soon.
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Minister of Finance Revealed That Nigeria Land Borders Would Be Reopened Soon.
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Border Town Farmers Set to get freedom from Nigerian Customs, as Federal Government Open Land Borders Soon.
The Nigerian government on Wednesday, November 25, revealed that the land borders would be reopened soon. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made the disclosure while speaking to State House correspondents.
It could be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019, ordered the closure of land borders to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms, and agricultural products into the country from neighbouring West African Nations. According to Ahmed, the presidential committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue has recommended the reopening of the borders.
She went on to note that the president would make an official announcement once the committee submits its report. Though the finance minister did not reveal the exact date, she, however, assured that very soon the land borders would be reopened.
She said: “We have made an assessment. The president set up a committee and we have made an assessment and all the members of the committee agreed and are recommending to the president that it is time to reopen the borders. Nigeria has been affecting our partners in terms of businesses that we have in Nigeria as well. So, we will be expecting that the borders will be reopened very soon. The date will be decided by Mr President.”
This development is coming two months after President Buhari dismissed any expectation that Nigeria’s land borders would be reopened anytime soon. Buhari had urged Nigerians to consume what is produced locally because his administration is not ready to reopen the land borders.
The president who was represented by the ministry minister of agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, said the federal government was ready to empower farmers to boost local production and perhaps, exports.
YewaFocusMagazine recalls that the federal government of Nigeria had on Monday, November 4, 2019, said that until member nations of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) respect rules of origin, it will not reopen its land borders.
This is as Godfrey Onyema, the minister of foreign affairs, said that all goods exported into Nigeria from ECOWAS countries must have not less than 30% local inputs. Onyeama added that such goods must be escorted directly from the port of member nations directly to Nigerian borders.
However, it is a good news and great hope to Nigerians farmers residing along the border towns, as they will breaths signs of relieve from the Nigerian Custom officers and other law enforcement agencies harassment and embarrassments when going and coming from their farms and local markets.
