Reps ask FG to reopen borders with Niger Republic despite ECOWAS sanctions

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to reopen the nation’s borders with Niger Republic.

The lower legislative chamber specifically asked the federal government to reopen the Maigatari, Mai’Aduwa, Kongwalam and Illela borders.

The resolution was passed during the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aliyu Madaki, a lawmaker from Kano.

BORDER CLOSURE

In August, the federal government closed the nation’s borders with the Niger Republic after a military coup in the francophone country.

The border closure was in compliance with the ban imposed on the country by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had said the closure of the country’s borders with the Niger Republic was not a declaration of war but was to comply with the directive of ECOWAS to suspend the movement of cargo until further notice.

Also, the senate and other stakeholders had advised President Bola Tinubu, chairman of ECOWAS,  to consider diplomatic options to resolve the political crisis in the country.

THE MOTION

While moving the motion, Madaki, who is the deputy minority leader, said the border towns of Maigatari in Jigawa, Kongwalam in Katsina and Illela in Sokoto, are centres of “large markets where large-scale international trades” take place between Nigerians and Niger, Mali, Chad, Cameroon as well as other neighbouring countries.

He said the border closure has brought “indescribable hardships” to the people, “causing hatred” between them and the neighbouring Nigerien citizens.

“The resultant hardships from the border closure have given rise to smuggling activities, with an increasing number of the youth in the affected communities getting involved, with some lured into terrorism and criminal activities, which could potentially worsen insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

He said if the borders are reopened and the cross-border markets well regulated, it would “promote peaceful and cordial relations between Nigeria and her immediate neighbours.

The lawmaker added that the reopening of the borders would “stem the scourge of smuggling and other trans-border crimes which have negatively affected the nation’s economy and image”.

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.

The lawmakers, however, rejected an amendment to the motion calling for the reopening of some borders in the southern part of the country that were closed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.