The Nigeria Customs Service has on Tuesday officially open the Illeila border in Sokoto State for the purpose of the citizens for import and export business activities.
The controller of customs covering Sokoto and Zamfara States, Abdulhamid Ma’aji, stated this in Illeila while holding a meeting with communities from Illeila in Nigeria and representatives of Kwanni in the Niger Republic as well as relevant stakeholders.
Ma’AJI, while assuring the people of the community of the total cooperation of his men, said with the opening of the border, economic activities will return to Illeila and its environment.
He called on residents of the area to give maximum support to Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies so as to help them in discharging their responsibilities.
“Now that this border is open for operation, let me appeal to every residents of both Illeila and Kwanni for their cooperation. I want to assure everyone that the Nigeria Customs and other agencies are ready to be professional in discharging their duties.
“Let me use this opportunity to tell you that all items that are tagged as contraband still remain banned. Items like rice, palm oil, drugs among others still remain banned and will not be allowed to enter the country from this land border and I appeal for total cooperation,” he said
The chairman of traders association in the state, Ibrahim Milgoma, commended the government for the reopening of the land borders in the state.
He reassured that traders in the state would continue to collaborate with the security agencies while avoiding bringing in goods that are not allowed into the country.