The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government will soon re-open the land borders in line with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement which is being prepared for take-off.
He made this assertion during a webinar organized by the African Report, titled ‘Bouncing back: Nigeria’s post-pandemic recovery plan’ which held recently. He noted that the government is working with neighboring countries on the terms of reopening the border. As at the moment, Osinbajo stated that the country is also undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders.
It would be recalled that had in October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the closure of the borders to check the menace of smuggling of goods and arms and ammunition into the country and to protect local businesses. The closure was, however, received by mixed reactions from professional organizations, economists and individuals.
In fact, both the Presidents of Ghana and Benin Republic had also appealed to President Buhari to reevaluate the closure, but he upheld that the borders will remain shut until the final report of the committee set up on the matter is considered.
He further said that neighboring countries must also show commitment to inhibiting smuggling from their respective ends.
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