Osinbajo Speaks On When Land Borders Will Open

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the federal government is working to reopen Nigeria’s land borders.

Naija News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 2019 ordered the total closure of land borders to check smuggling goods and arms into the country.

Speaking on Thursday during a webinar organised by The Africa Report, Osinbajo the borders will re-open soon.

Reacting to a question on the continued closure of the land borders despite preparations for the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he said the government is working with neighbouring countries on the terms of reopening the border.

“We are working with our neighbours to see on what terms we would reopen those borders. At the moment, we are undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders and we think it is working and I am sure that soon enough we should have the borders opened,” he said.

“We are committed to the AfCFTA but we are concerned about threats to security and the economy and we had to take certain actions that would satisfy the immediate needs of our country. It (border closure) certainly wasn’t meant to be permanent and we are looking forward to reopening as quickly as possible.”