Land borders arranged to be reopened a week by President Muhammadu Buhari are still closed to movement of products, The Country has observed.
The boundaries were closed on August 20, 2019, to halt the entrance of prohibited arms amongst others to the nation.
However movements of individuals were notices in the boundaries — Seme (Lagos State), Illela (Sokoto),
The rest of the land boundaries would be to start next week.
Asked when they opened, Dalhatu stated”Considering that the Federal Government gave the directive.”
But another leading Customs officer who asked not to be named because he can’t talk officially said reopening of the boundaries”will accompany official communication. It Won’t be on the afternoon that the pronouncement was made,”
Resources at Seme Customs Area Control, along with the Lagos State chapter of the Association of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) stated that there were no motions of products in the article supposed that the boundary hasn’t yet been opened.
Was summoned to Abuja to work out the methods for the complete reopening of the boundaries.
The Chairman of this ANCLA chapter in Lagos State, Bisiriyu Hussein, stated: “that the Customs control is anticipating directive in the headquarters for us to begin transacting our legitimate companies.”
An importer, Ayuba Ibrahim, stated that they weren’t pleased with the refusal of the NCS in the Seme article”allowing us to bring their products into the nation because the President directed the reopening of the boundaries.”
A leading immigration officer who pleaded anonymity said just individuals with global passports were permitted passage in the boundary.
He clarified that the choice was to”minimize the number of foreigners entering the nation in this age of COVID-19 second wave”
The officer stated: “Though the boundary might not begin working at 100 percent capacity till early next year, even a few farmers who are permitted to go into the country are people with their valid foreign passports. “We’re doing this because of this anxiety of COVID-19.”
Read also: Despite border closure, smuggling thrives
In Seme, the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) set in place to enforce movement restrictions through the 16-month closed remains in operation.
Operatives of those JBPT were seen at Owode and Gbaji junction. Some of these claimed several checkpoints across the Badagry-Seme Expressway.
In Mfum, a dealer who gave his name only as Okafor, affirmed that actions were at a really low ebb since the boundary hadn’t been opened for”products to come in and move out.”
He declared that some security representatives in the article bordering Nigeria and Cameroon were extorting dealers who hurried there with the expectation of transferring their merchandise.
He explained: “Government officials have become accustomed to the money they’ve been making throughout the lockdown and today using all the assumed reopening, nothing has changed. Traders and sellers are parting with an enormous amount before crossing the boundary.”
