Conversations are ongoing between the Federal Government and the governments of Niger and Benin regarding the prospective reopening of shared land borders, revealed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi. This announcement came following the launch of the National Single Window Project at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Adeniyi mentioned that he had engaged with representatives from both countries to address the issues that resulted in the border closure and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
In August 2019, the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, issued a directive to close Nigeria’s land border with Benin which halted all imports. This move significantly impacted the trade of food products as a large number of Nigerians heavily relied on imported food items.
However, the administration justified the directive as a means to boost domestic food production and combat smuggling and associated corruption.
Subsequently, on October 14, the government closed all of Nigeria’s borders with Benin and other neighboring countries for the same purpose.
“At present, all goods are prohibited from being exported or imported through our land borders to ensure complete control over incoming items,” stated the then comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali.
Ali highlighted that imports into Nigeria would now be channeled through seaports to facilitate the imposition of customs duties.
He emphasized that there is no set timeline for the reopening of the borders “until we establish absolute control over inbound shipments.”
However, Adeniyi, who succeeded Ali, informed reporters on Tuesday that, “Discussions on reopening the land borders are already underway, some of them at high-level. I engaged with counterparts in Benin Republic over the weekend, and earlier, I visited our borders with Niger Republic.
“We are addressing the root causes of the border closure to prevent a recurrence, and progress is being made,” he added.
He assured that Customs would continue to liaise and seek guidance from President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the priority to strengthen border security. With the implementation of the Single Window at both ports and border checkpoints, he anticipates enhanced efficiency in border management.
Adeniyi, a member of the Presidential Steering Committee on the National Single Window Project, expressed gratitude for the launch on Tuesday.
He stated, “During the steering committee’s inauguration by Mr. President, the word ‘border’ may not have been explicitly mentioned, however, this system presents an opportunity for coordinated border management.
“I am truly appreciative of Mr. President’s commitment to this project, which is crucial for its success amidst past challenges in its implementation.”