FG Gives Fresh Update On Opening Of Nigeria’s Borders

No Definite Time To Re-Open Nigeria’s Borders

The Federal Government has disclosed that no specific date has been picked for the re-opening of Nigeria’s borders which were closed to neighbouring countries.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum during a chat with journalists on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Katagum, however, noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria had held strategic meetings with Benin Republic and Niger to reach an agreement on modalities for the border reopening.

She said part of the outcome of the meeting was the setting up of a joint border patrol team made up of security personnel from customs, airforce and other security agencies.

Naija News recalls Nigeria shut its land borders in August 2019, a decision which has been attracting mixed reactions from stakeholders both within and outside the country.

However, in her chat on Monday, the minister stated that the decision to reopen the Nigerian borders would be based on recommendations from the patrol team on whether Niger and Benin Republic have complied with trade protocols.

She was quoted as saying, “We had the strategic meeting with the three countries and what we agreed with our neighbors is to activate a joint border patrol and that border patrol comprising the customs, all the security agencies and ensure to try to follow 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 a day for the opening of the border.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Richard Adebayo, has disclosed that the ministry is currently carrying out a review of the country’s trade policy as well as the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan to reflect current economic realities.

To this end, he stated that a meeting would be held with stakeholders in the auto sector on January 28 to get their input to the automotive policy which is being reviewed.

The bill will then be presented to the National Assembly to become law after its review he noted.