The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), has disclosed that the federal government has extended the partial closure of the Nigerian borders beyond the 28 days earlier scheduled.
The NSA revealed that the partial closure of the borders between Nigeria and Benin Republic has yielded positive results which lead to the arrest of about 100 illegal migrants; also illegal arms and the contraband foreign rice were also impounded.
Monguno reiterated that the reason behind the federal government partially closing the borders were all tie down to insecurity, stressing that it is the primary responsibility of any government to protect the life and property of its citizenry and secure its territorial borders.
Earlier while addressing his men at Maigatari boarder, a town which connect Nigeria and Niger Republic, Hammed Ali, the Comptroller General (CG) of Customs, said that Nigeria borders would remain shut down until the neighbouring countries are ready to respect Nigeria’s policies bordering on food ban and other contraband items.
According to the custom CG, Most of the criminals are not committed by the citizens of Nigeria. He laments how they come in and go out at will because of our porous border.
He revealed that is why he President has directed that we should go on and implement this drill of ensuring that we put into a proper procedure observation the inflow and outflow of people.
With this he said, our neighbouring countries must agree collectively on our protocols of transit routes.
According to the custom boss, Nigeria has enough food and is willing to go to any length to ensure its borders are no longer porous.
In a similar manner, Muhammad Babandede, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, said the federal government’s directive was important to ensure that people do not enter into Nigeria or leave Nigeria through illegal means.
In his statement, “A border is a designated place where there are both officers of Immigration and Customs manning them. If one you wants to enter into Nigeria, they should use the border. While ensuring that you carry along your documents with you,”
