FEC approves reopening of four land borders

The Federal Executive Council has approved the reopening of four land borders with immediate effect.

Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this after the week’s virtual FEC meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, adding that other land borders would be reopened by the end of the month.

She, however, said restriction on the importation of some commodities including rice would continue to be enforced.

The borders reopened are the Seme border in the South-West, Ilela Border in the North-West, Mfun in the South-South and Maigatari in the North-West.

President Buhari had on December 8, 2020 revealed plans to reopen the nation’s land borders.

He had explained that the closure of the borders was part of the efforts by the government to control the smuggling of weapons and drugs into the country.

“Now that the message has sunk in with our neighbours, we are looking into reopening the borders as soon as possible,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President asked the 36 state governors to work more with traditional rulers and community members to improve local intelligence gathering that would aid the work of security agencies.