Tinubu Has Not Re-opened Borders, Customs Clarifies

Claims that President Bola Tinubu has reopened all the land borders hitherto closed by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari has been refuted by the Nigerian Customs Service.

Former president Buhari, in 2019 closed all land borders to stop the illegal importation of some goods, including foreign parboiled rice, firearms , beverages and others edible items from neighbouring countries.

However, few years later, the Buhari administration reopened a few of the land borders and others have since remained shut despite the cries from Nigerians.

Some old video had been circulating on social media, in which  the Controller of the NCS, Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, was seen opening the barricades at the Idiroko border with Benin Republic.

The NCS Controller, in a reaction to the videos said the Tinubu administration has not ordered the reopening of all land borders.

According to him, the Buhari administration in 2022 reopened the Idiroko border and a few others, saying other ones remain closed until further directives from the Federal Government.

Bamidele disclosed that except for the Idiroko entry, the remaining approved borders in Ogun State like Ijofin, Imeko, Ijoun and Ohunbe are still under lock and key.

“It is only Idiroko that is open now; the others are still under lock,” he said, asking the masses to disregard the viral video.

Makinde, while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, maintained that customs officers are public servants, whose duty is to implement government policies.

“Now, we have a new administration. A new administration will come with its own policies. There should not be any misconceptions. We are just public servants, we implement policies. Whatever Abuja says, we do,” he added.

He emphasised that, “Idiroko border is open 24/7, but the others, if you do business in those borders, we will seize your goods.”