Senators Tuesday got divided over the ongoing border closure policy of the federal government of Nigeria.
The division of senators over the policy came into the fore during general debate on a motion moved by Senator Adamu Muhammad Aliero (APC Kebbi Central) on the policy.
While Aliero in his motion titled: “The Impact of Border Closure on the Nigerian Economy,” lauded the policy economically and security wise, many other senators who contributed, declared it as disastrous economically.
Specifically in his contribution, Patrick Abba Moro (PDP Benue South) said while 87 official borders were affected in the closure, about 1, 900 unofficial borders around the country are still open for all manner of trans-border activities.
He said it is better for the country to establish firms that would be producing products being smuggled into Nigeria than for the borders to be closed permanently.
In his own contribution, Sani Musa (APC Niger East), noted that the border closure was not achieving the desired results.
He said most people who are smuggling banned products especially rice, are using commercial motorcycles to bring the products through illegal borders which are not in any way affected by the closure.
He said the continued closure of the official borders would further put serious pressures and sufferings to the nation.
However, Bala Ibn Na’Allah ( APC Kebbi South ) justified the closure saying it would enable Nigerians to formulate policy that will help us find solutions to security challenges.
The Senate also urged the ministries of foreign affairs and interior to increase idiomatic outreach to the governments of the Republic of Benin, Cameroun, Niger and Chad to take urgent measures in stopping their countries from being used as smuggling base for illegal importation of unwanted goods into Nigeria.
