Should the border closure policy be sustained?

It should be sustained because it has really helped checkmate the influx of arms into the country and push citizens back to agriculture. If our border is reopened, our country will be open to unchecked smuggling. China is where it is now economically because it closed its borders many decades ago. Moreover, the closure of borders for the suggested number of years will stop some Nigerians from being lazy and make them producers, instead of just being consumers. Apart from making us lazy, we are still losing income; we are losing revenue because all these people smuggling goods through land borders are not paying anything. But if things should be coming in through the ports like the airports and the seaports, then, there will be scrutiny of all the things coming in.

The border closure should be sustained until the neighbouring countries have complied with the ECOWAS treaties and protocols. I urged the government to strengthen the security agencies at the border post. However, before such decisions are taken, notice should have been given to stakeholders so that they would have been prepared for it and not take them unawares.

Our border should remain close because it will increase the level of job creation, also the government should take advantage of this period to build industries. This time should be use to work on the port access road in order to bring a permanent solution to the call-up system for trucks entering the port. There is the need for Customs at this time to review its mode of operations; let us remove all the blockade we have on the road to the port. Government should also try to review the auto policy because 70 percent of new vehicles are smuggled into Nigeria, the government should make new vehicles attract lesser duties otherwise Nigerians will go back to Cotonou.

Yes it should be sustained because it is curbing corrupt practices especially at our borders. I know people are seeing the result of the closure of the border but some people may not be happy with it. The border closure has improved local capacity for certain goods because it has enabled us to consume our own local products and it also helping manufacturers like Nestle, Cadbury and PZ Industries, who export their products to neighbouring countries, as well as shipments of production inputs The losses from the border closure will largely impact their operations at the end of the year.

I don’t think it should be sustained. I understand the Federal Government’s reason for closing the borders but is it the right move? From what I have seen so far, it has done more harm than good. The inflation rate has increased by 11.6 percent so far. This is very high and has further increased the poverty rate in Nigeria. Now, restaurants are running out of chicken. I think the government should have made provisions for Nigerians before implementing the decision to close the borders. Nigerians that sell goods at the border are stranded and being forced to close down their businesses.