TheNewsGuru

Tag: Land Borders

  • Hardship: President Tinubu told to reopen land borders for food importation

    Hardship: President Tinubu told to reopen land borders for food importation

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been advised to reopen land borders to enhance food security in the country.

    This advice came from the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, who pleaded with the president, saying re-opening land border for food importation will help cushion the effect of food shortage in the country.

    Recall that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari shut all land borders to check smuggling as well as encourage local consumption.

    More than a year later, the governor who received the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, in Kano on Monday made a passionate appeal to the current administration to reopen all land borders.

    He said reopening the borders would check inflation and cut prices of food items, lamenting the harsh economic conditions being experienced by Nigerians.

    “I was honored to receive in audience, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at Government House in Kano,” the governor posted on X.

    “During the audience, I lamented the critical condition of hunger and starvation in the country which was caused by the rampant hike in the price of commodities.

    “I also made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency consider the reopening of the county’s borders for importation of foodstuff to alleviate the suffering.

    “I also expressed satisfaction with the Customs Service’s initiative to commence the distribution of food items to the good people of Kano, while urging them to ensure that this benevolent act reaches those most affected.”

    The governor pledged continued support to the service to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Earlier, Adeniyi called for effective synergy between Customs and the Kano community, adding that NCS was committed to deeper collaboration and mutual understanding.

    Adeniyi pledged to implement policies aimed at refining business processes and fostering engagement with stakeholders.

  • Tinubu has not reopened all land borders – Customs

    Tinubu has not reopened all land borders – Customs

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again informed the general public that President Bola Tinubu is yet to reopen all the land borders hitherto closed by the previous administration of  Muhammadu Buhari.

    Former president  Buhari, in 2019 closed all land borders to stop the illegal importation of some goods, including foreign parboiled rice, firearms , beverages and others edible items from neighbouring countries.

    However, few years later, the Buhari administration reopened a few of the land borders and others have since remained shut despite the cries from Nigerians.

    Recently, some individuals started sharing an old video on social media, wherein the Controller of the NCS, Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, was seen opening the barricades at the Idiroko border with Benin Republic.

    The video was being shared with the caption stating that Tinubu has reopened land borders.

    Reacting, the NCS Controller said the Tinubu administration has not ordered the reopening of all land borders.

    According to him, the Buhari administration in 2022 reopened the Idiroko border and a few others, saying other ones remain closed until further directives from the Federal Government.

    Bamidele disclosed that except for the Idiroko entry, the remaining approved borders in Ogun State like Ijofin, Imeko, Ijoun and Ohunbe are still under lock and key.

    “It is only Idiroko that is open now; the others are still under lock,” he said, asking the masses to disregard the viral video.

    Makinde, while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, maintained that customs officers are public servants, whose duty is to implement government policies.

    “Now, we have a new administration. A new administration will come with its own policies. There should not be any misconceptions. We are just public servants, we implement policies. Whatever Abuja says, we do,” he added.

    He emphasised that, “Idiroko border is open 24/7, but the others, if you do business in those borders, we will seize your goods.”

  • Spain, Morocco re-open land borders after two years of closure

    Spain, Morocco re-open land borders after two years of closure

    The North African country of Morocco and European nation of Spain have re-opened the land borders between the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, two years after they were closed down due to COVID -19 restriction and a diplomatic disagreement between the two nations.

    The enclaves on the Mediterranean coast in northern Morocco have the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.

    The gates opened shortly after 11:00 pm local time (2200 GMT) on Monday night, letting dozens of cars and queues of pedestrians pass in both directions.

    At the Fnideq border post, smiles lit up the faces of the travellers crossing to see their families on the Moroccan side.

    “I was stuck for two years in Ceuta, I’m very happy to be back home,” said Nourredine.

    “I am happy that Morocco and Spain have restored their relations, it allows us to see our families,” said one man in his sixties.

    Meanwhile the reopening of the borders of the two enclaves initially remains limited to residents of Europe’s open-borders Schengen area and their family members.

    It will be expanded to cross-border workers after May 31.

    The economies of the two sides recived a major boost due to large crossing of the people and their goods.

    The Ceuta and Melilla crossings were closed during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

    The borders became the focus of a major dispute last year, when Madrid allowed the leader of a Western Saharan independence movement to be treated for Covid-19 in a Spanish hospital.

    Ten thousand migrants surged across the Moroccan border into Ceuta as local border forces looked the other way, a move widely seen as a punitive gesture by Rabat.

    In March this year, Spain moved to end the diplomatic crisis with Morocco by changing its decades-long stance of neutrality and backing the kingdom’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara, which Rabat insists must remain under its sovereignty.

    Recall that maritime travel between the two countries resumed on April 12, 2022 and process was on going to re-open land borders.

  • BREAKING: Buhari orders re-opening of land borders

    BREAKING: Buhari orders re-opening of land borders

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the re-opening of land borders which had been shut for over one year.

    Zainab Ahmed, the nation’s minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, told newsmen after a virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting in Abuja.

    She, however, added that there was still restriction on importation of commodities, such as rice and other products.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the nation had shut its borders in August 2019 to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms and agricultural products into the country from West Africa.

    Last month, Ahmed had said the borders would soon be opened following recommendation by a presidential committee on the matter.

    She had hinted that the land borders would be re-open soon, saying that the presidential committee set up on the matter had completed its job and had recommended the reopening of the borders.

    The minister stated that the committee would soon submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Senate commends Buhari on temporary closure of land borders

    Senate commends Buhari on temporary closure of land borders

    …Urges NPC to develop framework to track foreign aid

     

    The Senate has commended the recent decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to temporarily close all land borders to address smuggling and its impact on the Nigerian economy.

    The commendation came after the consideration of a motion titled: “The impact of border closure on the Nigerian economy”, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) at Wednesday’s plenary.

    The Senate, in its resolutions, urged the Nigerian Customs Service and security services to intensify the curbing of smuggling across the borders, and assured them of the upper chamber’s support in their onerous task of ridding Nigeria of smuggled goods and services.

    Leading the debate, Senator Aliero said, “Fuel smuggling has significantly reduced thereby saving the country billions of scarce foreign exchange spent by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to import fuel into Nigeria.”

    Aliero noted that smuggling of textile and vegetable oil imported from Malaysia through the land borders has negatively affected local production and grounded it to a halt.

    “The Federal Government’s action has led to the revival of local production of vegetable oil, and increased employment generation,” the senator said.

    …Senate seeks more aid and donor fund for Nigeria

    Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday urged the National Planning Commission (NPC) to develop a policy framework that creates mechanisms for development cooperation and aid effectiveness in Nigeria.

    The upper chamber counseled its relevant standing committees to monitor and oversee Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that are beneficiaries of developmental aid and grants across Nigeria.

    The Senate further asked States’ Planning Commissions and Houses of Assembly to domesticate and implement federal policies and laws to enable states achieve aid effectiveness.

    The resolutions were reached at Wednesday’s plenary following a consideration of a motion titled: “The need to make development aid more effective to work for Nigerians.”

    The motion was sponsored by Senator Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central) and co-sponsored by 52 other Senators.

    Senator Oloriegbe said “Nigeria as a developing country receives aid from bilateral countries and multilateral organisations; despite not being an aid dependent country, as the support to it is about five percent of the national budget.”

    He bemoaned the failure of the National Planning Commission to effectively perform its role of ensuring the monitoring of donor assistance with national priorities in all sectors of the economy.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said the true application of aid for the benefit of Nigerians will form part of the legislative agenda of the ninth Senate.

    “Giving aid to Nigeria should not be treated like it is treated in other countries that are lesser than Nigeria. We must be able to know exactly what the aid is for, and then streamline the aid with our national developmental objectives.

    “The Chairman of Diaspora and NGOs Committee has the task of engaging the National Planning Commission together with the Chairman of the Committee on National Planning to ensure that that we know what the processes and procedures are and the regulations and guidelines and if we are not satisfied, then we have to come up with the legal framework that will ensure that if there is any aid to us as a country, our people benefit from the aid,” Lawan said.

     

  • Supplementary polls: FG orders closure of land borders on Friday

    Supplementary polls: FG orders closure of land borders on Friday

    The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) has ordered the closure of the land borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto States with effect from 12 noon on Friday March 22 to 12: 00 noon of Sunday, March 24, 2019.

    Dambazau said the development is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days.

    A statement in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, explained: “Further to the re-run of the Governorship Elections taking place on Saturday 22, March 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has directed the closure of Land Borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto states with effect from 12.00 noon of Friday 22, March to 12:00 noon of Sunday 24th March, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

  • Elections: FG closes land borders Friday

    Elections: FG closes land borders Friday

    The Federal Government has announced the closure of all Nigerian land borders with effect from 12:00 noon on Friday, February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdrahman Dambazau who gave the order said the development is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days.

    According to a statement issued by the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede and made available to news men: “Further to the Presidential Election taking place on the February, 23, 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior has directed the closure of all Nigeria Land Borders with effect from 12:00 noon of Friday February 22 to 12:00 noon of Sunday February 24, 2019.

    “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

     

  • FG to extend ban on vehicle through land borders by 90days

    FG to extend ban on vehicle through land borders by 90days

    Indications emerge that the Federal Government might be considering pleas by various interest groups for an extension in the implementation date of its ban on vehicle through land borders by a grace period of ninety days.

    In response to a petition written by the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) asking the government to extend the period before implementing the policy, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul, an Assistant Director in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said that the government was considering the extension.

    The letter with reference number ECD/P/251/T/111/232 and dated 25th January, 2017, Abdul said the issue of extension has been forwarded to both the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The letter reads in part: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 12th of January, 2017 in respect of the above subject and inform you that the issues raised therein have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service for consideration and necessary action”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, had written to the Presidency saying that the ban of vehicles through land borders was against international trade laws.

    In a petition, the council said that the laws of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, stipulates that trade regulations and amendments with regards to restriction and reversal of Fiscal Policy on Trade, must be subject to process of consultation by trading public and transparency in the timing, so as to accommodate the challenges that maybe associated with the directive/regulation.

    The convention according to the Council also stipulates that each contracting party shall provide opportunities and an appropriate time period to traders and other interested parties to comment on the proposed introduction or amendment of laws and regulations of general application related to the movement, release, and restriction of transit goods.

    He also said that the restriction of vehicles through the land borders came at a very short notice, which contravenes the convention and global best practice on reasonable information across the international community, carrier, and shippers, traders etc., that are directly affected by the decision.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the Federal Government had through the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS on December 5, 2016 ordered the ban on importation of vehicles into the country through land borders.

    The ban according to the government takes effect from January 1, 2017.

  • Senate stops ban on importation of ‘tokunbo’ vehicles

    Senate stops ban on importation of ‘tokunbo’ vehicles

    The Senate has called on Nigeria Customs Service to immediately suspend the policy which has banned importation of vehicles through land borders since the beginning of the year.

    In a sponsored motion by Senator Barau Jibrin representing Kano North Senatorial District alongside four others, Senate argued that the ban will lead to over 500,000 job loss if government goes ahead with its implementation.

    In his lead debate, Jibrin explained that economy of border villages and towns that depend on importation of vehicles through land routes will crumble.

    “Distinguished Colleagues, lets take note that the ban would lead to the loss of about 500,000 jobs by people engaged in the business of vehicles importation and handling services in border areas and around the country,” Jibrin said.

    Contributing to the debate, Senator Sam Egwu lashed at the federal government’s decision on car importation ban, saying it is anti-people.

    He further maintained that the APC-led government has always created hardships for the citizens through unpopular policies.

    Dino Melaye on his part, encouraged the Nigeria Customs Service to muster capacities to manage land borders so that there will be no leakage in revenues.

    Shehu Sani maintained that interest of other nations having border lines with Nigeria should be taken into consideration, noting that those countries depend on car exportation to Nigeria for their revenues.

    He added that the ban will create economic crises in those countries, while urging NCS to strengthen their services to curtail smuggling activities which was their fear.

    “Mr. President, we have other countries who have been friends of Nigeria that depends on exporting cars to Nigeria and it will affect their economy if the ban is allowed, ” Sani said.

    In his ruling, Ike Ekweremadu asked the Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Customs Service to suspend the policy banning car importation.

  • FG bans importation of vehicles through land borders

    FG bans importation of vehicles through land borders

    The Federal Government has banned the importation of vehicles into the country through land borders.

    In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Mr Wale Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Officer, stated that “the prohibition order covers all new and used vehicles”.

    Adeniyi also said the ban was sequel to a presidential directive restricting all vehicle imports to Nigeria’s Sea ports only, adding that the order takes effect from Jan. 1, 2017.

    “The restriction on importation of vehicles follows that of rice; import of rice through land borders has been banned since April 2016.

    “Importers of vehicles through the land borders are requested to utilise the grace period until Dec. 31, 2016 to clear their vehicle imports landed in neighbouring Ports,” Adeniyi said.