Border closure: Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari awaiting tripartite panel's decision on reopening

Border closure: Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari awaiting the decision of the tripartite committee

March 4, 2020 6:45 PM

President Buhari with New President of Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) Dr George Nana Donkor, Outgoing President Mr Bashir Mamman Ifo and Minister of Finance Dr Zainab Ahmed as he receives in Farewell Audience Outgoing President of Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and his Successor in State House on 3rd Mar 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari promises to implement the decision of the tripartite committee on the border closure as soon as the report is received.
He says Nigeria has curtailed the importation of drugs and proliferation of small arms.
West African nations urged to resolve existing border issues or face economic consequences.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to implement the decision of the tripartite committee on the border closure.

The tripartite committee is made up of Nigeria, Benin, and Niger.

Okada riders smuggles rice from Seme Border on Lagos-Badagry Expressway. (Image credit: Business Highlights) business highlights

The president stated this on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, while receiving Bashir Mamman Ifo, outgoing President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and his successor, Dr. George Nana Donkor, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said the partial border closure allowed the country to curtailed the importation of drugs and proliferation of small arms.

‘‘We have saved millions of dollars. We have realised that we don’t have to import rice. We have achieved food security. ‘‘We have curtailed the importation of drugs and proliferation of small arms which threaten our country,’’ the statement quoted the President as saying.

Nigerian land borders have been partially closed since August 2019. (Bloomberg) Pulse Nigeria

President Buhari thanked the outgoing ECOWAS Bank President for the improvements recorded in his eight-year tenure and urged his successor to build on those achievements.

West African nations urged to resolve existing border issues

The IMF, ECOWAS, and other international organisations have urged West African nations to quickly resolve issues around border closure.

Failure to resolve this, the International Monetary Fund said it will continue to have significant economic consequences on neighbouring nations.

In January 2020, President Buhari said the border closure was to strengthen the country’s security and economy and not to punish neighbouring countries.