Border closure gains outweigh losses, Aregbesola insists



Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has insisted that the benefits derivable from the partial closure of Nigerian borders outweighes the losses, lamenting that smuggling and other illegal activities at the borders have undermined the country’s economic sovereignty.
The minister, therefore, appealed to Nigerians, especially those making a living and residing near the borders to be patient with the federal government over the closure, assuring that the government was already putting measures in place to provide them with legitimate businesses in place of the illegal economic activities at the borders.


Aregbesola spoke while inaugurating a Forward Operations Base (FOB) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at Oja – Odan, a border community in Yewa North local government area of Ogun state at the weekend.
The minister lamented that smuggling and illegal migration had almost crippled Nigeria’s economy and also exposed the country to various security threats.
According to him, the ongoing joint operation at the borders would put a permanent halt to the porosity at the borders.
The former Osun state governor was accompanied to the event by Ogun state Governor Dapo Abiodun, Controller-General of NIS,  Muhammad Babandede, state Controller, Doris Braimah, among others.
Aregbesola expressed concern over the illegal economic activities at the borders with neighbouring countries, lamenting that huge importation duty accrue to Nigeria had gone down the drain.
“In as much as we like to maintain cordial relation, it must be within the ambit of the law. Illegal migrations, smuggling, trans-border banditry, criminality, subversive  economic activities and other practices have undermined our economic sovereignty, way of life and rampart of these borders.
“I urge all our agencies to be vigilant and be up to their bidding and ensure that this untoward practices are brought to a halt. Again, I want to commend the courage of our president for approving the drill that is happening now,” he said.
Speaking on the effect of the drill on the residents, Aregbesola said, “You seem not to be happy now, but I assure you that you would be happy later because the federal government will give you alternative businesses and legitimate engagement that would bring legitimate wealth to your pockets and happiness to your land.”

Leave a Reply