The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said the Federal Government may reopen the land borders soon. The President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2019 ordered the closure of the borders to check the menace of smuggling goods, arms and ammunition into the country and protect local businesses. The closure was, however, greeted by mixed reactions from professional organisations, economists and individuals. Heads of countries like Ghana and Benin Republic had also appealed to the President to reconsider the closure, but the President maintained that the borders would remain closed until the final report of the committee set up on the matter was considered. He added that neighbouring countries must also show commitment to curtailing smuggling from their ends.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo, responding to a question on the continued closure of the land borders especially at a time the African Continental Free Trade Agreement(AfCFTA) is being prepared for take off, said on Thursday that the government was working with neighbouring countries on the terms of reopening the border. “He said at the moment, we are undertaking joint border patrols to control smuggling along the borders, we are committed to the (AfCFTA) but we concerned about threats to security and the economy and we had to take certain actions that would satisfy the immediate needs of our country. Border closure wasn’t meant to be permanent and we looking forward to reopening as quickly as possible.”