Seme, Mfun, Ilela borders still shut
Twenty four hours after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the reopening of four land borders, they remained shut on Thursday.
Our reporters who went round gathered that concerened agencies were still waiting for official communication before reopening them.
Seme border in Lagos, Ilela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa and Mfun in Cross River state remained under lock.
At the Seme border, a senior immigration official, who did not want to be named, said: “We are waiting for a directive from our head office.”
A senior Customs offficer added: “Business activities are yet to start because most of the security agencies at the border are still waiting for formal letters from their various offices.”
Vice President Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Kayode Farinto, who operates at the Seme border, said the reopening was long overdue.
An importer, Mr Sunday Emmanuel, said the government took the right decision.
The Chairman of ANLCA at Seme border, Alhaji Bisiriyu Hussein, said: “We are waiting for directives from Customs.”
Travellers were denied exit by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
It was a similar situation at the Mfum border post in Cross River State, between Nigeria and Cameroon.
State Comptroller of Immigration, James Ezugwu, told our correspondent that although the state command would carry out the directive, COVID-19 protocols would continue to be adhered to.
The Ilela border entry point in Sokoto State also did not reopen on Thursday.
There was minimal activity at the nearby market and at the border, which connects Sokoto with Niger Republic.
Our correspondent observed that there were no movements of commercial vehicles, goods and traders to or from the two countries.
The Customs Officer in charge of the border, Mr Jamilu Tanko, said there was no formal circular received on the directive yet.
Traders welcomed the news of the border reopening.
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