Ebun Francis| The Federal Government has not decided on a terminal date when the country’s border would be reopened to neighboring countries, the minister of state for industry, trade, and investment, Mariam Katagun said on Monday.
The Minister who made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Abuja, said the Federal Government had held strategic meetings with Benin Republic and Niger to reach an agreement on modalities for the border reopening.
According to her, one of the fallouts of the meeting was the setting up of a joint border patrol team made up of security personnel from customs, airforce and other security agencies.
The decision to reopen the border, she said, would depend on recommendations from the patrol team on whether Niger and Benin Republic have complied with trade protocols.
Katagun said, “We had the strategic meeting with the three countries and what we agreed with our neighbors is to activate a joint border patrol and that border patrol comprising the customs, all the security agencies and ensure to try to follow the actual protocol laid by ECOWAS.
“The committee met on November 25 and it is only when that committee is certain that all the countries are respecting the ECOWAS protocol that they will recommend a day for the opening of the border.”
The Federal Government in August closed its borders to neighboring countries in an exercise code-named operation Exercise Swift Response.
The action had been greeted by mixed reactions from stakeholders.
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