*Meets with Tinubu, Says not all land borders re-opened
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, CG Wale Adeniyi, met with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday with a major information about the state of Nigeria’s land borders with its neighbours, saying not all such borders are re-opened.
Adeniyi, who lamented the challenge of fuel smuggling across the borders, said the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant increase in price of product in the country will disincentivise fuel smugglers and their smuggling activities across the borders in the long run.
He said that with new policies by the government, the persistent challenge of smuggling of the vital commodity will diminish.
The DEFENDER reports that the Federal Government shut down all land borders linking the country with its neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and the Republic of Benin in 2018 and were remained to be like that until recently, when media reports had it that the borders have been reopened.
But the Acting CG, who did not deny the report of land borders re-opening, however clarified that only six strategic of the land borders were reopened and that that happened in 2021.
Adeniyi, who addressed State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the President, said that there were ongoing processes to review the situation and the quest to achieve border security and regional integration.
He noted, however, that the re-opening of all the borders, when it eventually happens, will be made public.
According to the Customs boss, his discussion with the President also centered on advancing user-friendly ports, exports as well as ensuring 48-hour clearance of goods around the ports.
