The House of Representatives has shut down a motion to reopen Idiroko Border and other land borders in the country.
This followed a motion by Rep. Kolawole Lawal (APC-Ogun) at plenary on Wednesday in in Abuja.
Hon. Lawal had moved a motion on the urgent need to reopen Idiroko Border and other land borders in the country.
He said that though the border closure was sequel to effort by the Federal Government to curb smuggling of goods.
He, however, said that before the closure, the Nigeria-Benin Republic Border at Idiroko in Ogun alone generated annual revenue of over N6 billion.
He said that the Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfun land borders had since been reopened leaving other land borders still closed.
The lawmaker said that since the closure of Nigeria’s borders in August 2019, residents of Idiroko had witnessed massive economic downturn.
He also stated the government’s decision to ban illegal importation of food items under the guise of border closure had not increased farmers’ food production as the country is experiencing food inflation.
According to him, if Idiroko and other land borders across the country are not urgently reopened, the people will further suffer.
“And, considering the growing agitation as a result of the closure, this may resort to aggravated crimes to survive as the country continues to lose huge revenue.
However, most of the lawmaker, who spoke on the motion, opposed the reopening of the border.
Rep Rotimi Agunsoye (APC-Lagos) said that it was important for the government to tighten the closure and ensure all the borders were closed to solve the problem of insecurity.
SOURCE: NAN