Nigerian government has finally bowed to pressure against the months-long border closure as President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the immediate reopening of Nigeria’s border posts at four entry points.
Minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed disclosed this at the end of the 28th virtual FEC meeting on Wednesday.
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Nigeria had shut its borders against neighbours in August 2019. The government said the action was to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms and agricultural products into the country from West Africa.
Announcing the decision, Zainab who had hinted in November on the government’s plan to reopen the border, listed the entry points as Seme near Badagry in Lagos State and Illela in Sokoto State.
The other two are Maigatari in Jigawa state and Mfun in the south-south. She said other entry points will be opened by December 31, 2020.
While the Buhari’s government has been attempting to list the benefits of the border closure, business owners have complained over the decision, noting it has led to untold hardship among citizens, as it blocks Nigerians from trading directly with the rest of West Africa and beyond.
This, some analysts have traced to the disturbing inflationary trend in the country at the moment as prices of commodities continue to spike uncontrollably.
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