PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI said the issue of partial closure of Nigeria’s land borders to goods from neighbouring countries would be determined by the report of tripartite committee made up of Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic.
The President, who disclosed this when he received PRESIDENT ROCH MARC CHRISTIAN KABORE of Burkina Faso at the Presidential Villa, said Nigeria’s decision to partially close the border was to safeguard national security.
The President of Burkina Faso is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee mandated to resolve the issue of border closure.
“Our major problem is security – the inflow of weapons, ammunition and drugs. We have witnessed a decline in banditry using such weapons since the partial closure of the borders. Also, our farmers are now able to sell their rice since we stopped the inflow of foreign rice, usually dumped in the country,’’ he said.
The President said Nigeria was very much mindful of the concerns of neighbouring countries on the issue, assuring that his administration will find an early and enduring solution.
In his remarks, PRESIDENT KABORE said he visited BUHARI following the mandate of ECOWAS to resolve the issues that culminated in the partial closure of the border, adding that some of the challenges had been discussed, and agreed on.
He urged the Nigerian leader to reconsider the position of the country.
