New Telegraph

Jubilation in Seme as FG reopens land borders

There was jubilation in Seme, near Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday as Federal Government ordered the reopening of four land borders across the country. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, announced the immediate reopening of four land borders after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held virtually in Abuja on Wednesday.

A large number of stakeholders and residents of Seme border community have expressed their joy at the development and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for reopening the land borders. Reacting, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA), Seme Border Chapter, commended the Federal Government for reopening the land borders. Alhaji Bisiriyu Fanu, ANCLA Seme Chapter Chairman, said that the reopening of the land borders was overdue, saying that the gesture will boost trans-border trade in the ECOWAS sub-region. Fanu said that many freight forwarders had lost their means of livelihoods as a result of the closure because their goods were stuck on both sides of the border. The Onimeke of Imekeland, Oba Abraham Ogabi, also said that the reopening of the land border was a welcome development.

Ogabi said that the closure had paralysed socio-economic activities of border communities which relied on the trade between Republic of Benin and Badagry communities. “We are in the border area, some of our people are married to their women and we do legitimate business with them.

“But the closure has affected our socio-economic relationship with the border communities of Benin Republic. “We thank the President and members of the FEC for reopening of the land borders,” he said.

Also speaking, the Alashipa of Ashipa in Badagry, Alhaji Shehu Ayeni, said the closure had affected his community which shared land borders with Republic of Benin. The traditional ruler, however, appealed to government to ensure security operatives were posted to necessary points in the area to block the influx of contraband into the country. Ayeni said that the reopening of the Seme land border would put smiles on the faces of many residents of the community.

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