TheCable

The house of representatives on Wednesday voted against a motion seeking to reopen all land borders in Nigeria.

The motion sponsored by 11 lawmakers wanted the government to reopen the borders that are still close and invest more in security and surveillance along the routes.

Kolawole Lawal from Ogun state, lead sponsor of the motion, specifically asked the government to reopen the Nigeria-Benin Republic border at Idiroko in Ipokia LGA of Ogun alongside the others yet to be reopened.

In December 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the reopening of four land borders — Seme in Lagos, Illela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa and Mfun in Cross River.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance who made the announcement, had said the remaining borders are directed to be reopened on or before 31st of December.

But Lawal said that only the four borders have been reopened “leaving other land borders still closed”.

“The government’s decision to ban illegal importation of food items under the guise of border closure has not increased farmers’ food production as the country is experiencing food inflation,” he said.

“The decision to stem smuggling of goods through the closure of land borders has increased food smuggling and other prohibited items as well as other crimes, thus raising questions about the measure’s effectiveness and the actual reasons for the decision.”

The lawmaker also said the border closure has “profound repercussions” on the free trade agreement signed by African countries to help remove the continent’s trade barriers.

A number of his colleagues including Isiaka Ibrahim from Ogun agreed, calling on the government to reopen the border in the state and all others still closed across the country.

But Rotimi Agunsoye from Lagos argued that the borders have not been effectively closed.

He said for the border closure to achieve its intended goal, due diligence must be done.

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, said the government has been able to record some achievements with the borders closed, adding that such would not have been the case if they were open.

He then put the motion to a voice vote after which a majority of the lawmakers voted against it.