SAN FRANCISCO, September 12, (THEWILL) – Nigeria borders will remain closed until neighbouring countries respect Nigeria’s policy on food ban and other contraband importation.
This was disclosed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, during a visit to Maigatari border in Jigawa State which connects Nigeria and Niger republic.
While addressing custom personnel and community leaders at the border town, Ali lamented that criminals are coming in through Nigeria’s porous borders to perpetrate crimes freely.
“Most of the criminals are not citizens of Nigeria. They come in at will and go out at will because our borders are so porous. They come and create havoc and they disappear.
“This is why the President directed that we should go on and embark on this drill to ensure that we put into place a proper procedure for in and outflow of people.
“We must also get our neighbours to agree with us on the protocols of transit routes,” Ali said.
On his part, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, said the Federal Government’s directive was important to ensure that people do not enter into Nigeria or leave Nigeria through illegal means.
“A border is a place where there are immigration and customs.
“If you want to enter into Nigeria, there is a border. The rule is that you pass through the border. If you are going pass through the border, carry your documents with you,” he said.
THEWILL recalls that Nigeria has shut its borders with neighbouring countries including Seme border, which borders Lagos with Benin Republic and through which a large volume of imported materials, legal and illegal, arrive Nigeria.
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