A coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria, has commended the decision of the federal government to shut down the country’s land borders, stating that the policy has positively impacted on the nation’s security.
In a statement issued by its convener, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, the coalition said like every big decision, the closure has brought about temporal hardship, urging Nigerians to be patient as the closure will bring about long term benefits for the country and her citizens.
While stating that the closure has effectively checked the high influx of smuggled goods and products into the country, the coalition said other positives from the measure include increase in the local production of rice, an increase in the revenue of the Nigerian Customs Service and curtailment of illegal importation and proliferation of arms into the country.
The statement read: “It is crucial for us as an organisation and critical stakeholder in the Nigerian project to commend President Muhammadu Buhari on this all-important step taken towards a prosperous nation.
This patriotic stance is not only economically viable but also a pride for us all. Thus, we seriously appeal to Nigerians for the need to endure the pains to have lasting economic prosperity as a people.”
The coalition recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service had in 2016 banned importation of rice through the land borders, adding that, “despite these measures, imported rice continued to flood the Nigerian market at rock bottom prices, thereby rendering locally-produced rice very unattractive to buyers and hence the need for an holistic approach to give a change for growing our economy through local produce.
“We use this medium to commend the Federal Government’s decision to close the borders as the most successful and effective measure so far adopted to curtail the influx of smuggled food and other goods to the country.
“With the closure of the borders comes an improvement in the revenue generated by the Nigerian Customs service which had risen to over N5bn daily, since the closure.”
Odeyemi noted further that more than 200 illegal immigrants have been apprehended across the border by the security agencies thereby enhancing the security of the nation.
The statement said the border closure has equally reduced proliferation of small arms thereby reducing the activities of non-state actors and violent individuals who seek to create a state within the Nigerian state.
“We equally commend our security agencies, the Nigerian Army and other sister agencies for effectively manning our borders, thereby curtailing illegal importation and proliferation of arms which has equally reduced dramatically the activities of terrorist and insurgents in the Northeast and other parts of the country.”
Odeyemi further said that in September, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, tweeted that the closure of Nigeria’s borders, as well as other interventions, had helped to check the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) outside Nigeria among many other benefits.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari not to yield to pressures, blackmails and subterfuge both locally and international on the issue of the border closure, Nigeria and Nigerians must come first. In concluding, we admonish Nigerians that weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning.”
