Only Tinubu can decide on border reopening- Adeniyi

Only Tinubu can decide on border reopening- Adeniyi

On Saturday, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, stated that only President Bola Tinubu holds the authority to authorize the reopening of the country’s borders.

He made this statement during an interactive session with members from the Kongolam border community in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Adeniyi, in response to calls for the reopening of the borders, reassured that discussions and consultations were underway concerning the matter.

“Once consultations are concluded, a decision will be taken on the matter,” he said.

Continuing, Adeniyi assured that the Service will focus on removing obstacles militating against free trade in line with the present administration’s agenda of fostering economic prosperity.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that CG maintained that proactive measures had been employed to reduce the number of checkpoints along the border posts and promote synergy between the Service personnel and traders.

“We are conscious of the concerns of the border communities, particularly with regard to the number of checkpoints and the closure of land borders.

“I assure you that our operations are always guided by law, and we only operate on delegated powers.

“We have communicated the concerns and complaints by residents of the border communities to the President and because he has listening ears he directed that we should release confiscated food items, on the condition that they will only be sold in the Nigerian markets,” he said.

Adeniyi, who also visited former President Muhammad Buhari and the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq-Umar, disclosed that the Service is collaborating with the Police and other sister agencies to address obstacles militating against free trade in the border areas.

“We know that there are markets around our borders, and we know that not all of them are targeted at taking goods across the borders.

“We will continue to monitor and ensure that food produced in Nigeria remains and is consumed in Nigeria. This is because we are in a period of national emergency that has to do with food insufficiency.

“And that is why we must collectively work together to assist the government to enforce the various laws prohibiting exportation of food items at this time,” he stressed.