News

Open border with Benin Republic, PANDEF gives reasons and urges Tinubu

Published by Fakinlede Tope John on March 16th, 2024.

Open border with Benin Republic, PANDEF gives reasons and urges TiTinubuOpen border with Benin Republic, PANDEF gives reasons and urges Tinubu

President Tinubu

The Pan Niger Delta Forum has advised President Bola Tinubu not to open Nigeria’s borders in the North-East region in order not to worsen the security situation in the area.

PANDEF’s advice came on the heels of the directive by the President for the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger.

A statement by the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, indicated that the directive was in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, also said consultations were ongoing on the reopening of borders, saying that only President Bola Tinubu had the prerogative to reopen borders in the country.

However, according to a former Chief of the Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, 137 of the 261 borders in the North-East and North-West are unguarded.

Speaking on the matter, PANDEF spokesperson, Ken Robinson, told Saturday PUNCH that reopening the borders in the North-East could be counterproductive.

“If any other border will be opened, it is that of the Benin Republic. We will suggest that the border with the Benin Republic be opened for ease of business because I don’t think there have been challenges of insecurity in that area.

But I think that other borders, particularly those in the North-East, should remain closed. The greater concern is the aspect of security because people may freely come in, commit crimes, and freely go out.

“It has been claimed that some of the bandits are not citizens of Nigeria. So, the opening of the border could further increase that concern,” he added.

Supporting Robinson’s views, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, said the Federal Government should beef up security around the borders.

He said, “Apart from the security issues caused by the lapses at the border, it is a good idea to open the borders. I think the challenges in the country with insufficient food items make it important to open the borders.

“Most importantly, they (the Federal Government) also need to beef up security around the borders so that they don’t begin to have an influx of illegal items into the country.”