The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to reopen the country’s borders with Niger Republic that were closed following a military coup in the neighbouring country last year.
The lawmakers specifically urged the federal government to unlock the borders of Maigatari, Mai’Aduwa, Kongwalam, and Illela, which are major markets for cross-border trade between Nigerians and residents of other countries like Niger, Mali, Chad, and Cameroon.
The resolution was passed at the plenary session on Tuesday after a motion moved by Kano member Aliyu Madaki was adopted.
Recall that the FG shut the country’s borders with Niger Republic in August last year after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the nation over the coup that ousted President Mahamadou Issoufou.
The Nigeria Customs Service said that the country’s borders with Niger Republic were shut due to an ECOWAS directive to restrict cargo movement until further notice, not because war had been declared.
Also, the senate and other stakeholders had appealed to President Bola Tinubu, chairman of ECOWAS, to adopt diplomatic measures to end the political crisis in the nation.
The motion said that the border closure has caused “unimaginable sufferings” for the people and “hostility” between them and neighbouring Nigerien citizens.
The motion also said that the border closure has encouraged smuggling activities, with a rising proportion of the youth in the affected communities getting involved. Some of them have even been lured to join terrorism and criminal activities, which may worsen the already existing insecurity in Nigeria.
“Reopening the borders and strictly regulating the cross-border trade will promote peaceful and cordial relations between Nigeria and her close neighbours.
“Reopening the borders will also curb the menace of smuggling and other trans-border crimes which have damaged the nation’s economy and image,” the motion said.
Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote and it was approved.
However, lawmakers rejected an amendment to the motion that sought for the reopening of some southern border crossings that were closed under the previous president, Muhammadu Buhari.
