By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service Area Command in kebbi State on Monday officially reopened the Kamba and Tsamiya borders in Dandi and Bagudo Local Government Areas of Kebbi State to their Benin and Niger Republics on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The borders were shut against the two countries following the growing insecurity around the border areas. The President gave approval for their reopening after series of talks and agreements were reached between Nigeria and Benin Republic Government.
While on official visit to Kebbi State on Saturday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said there was a strong commitment from the Benin Republic Government to see that Nigeria plays it's brotherly role and allow the over 2,000 trapped trucks into the country and there was a strong commitment from the office of the security adviser to see that the country borders are secured and to ensure that the reopening of the borders does not pose any threat to national security.
While opening the borders to the Benin and Niger Republics trucks on Monday the Customs Area Comptroller in kebbi State, Mahmud Matawalle Ibrahim said the borders were opened on the approval of the President to allow for the movement of legitimate goods from Tsamiya border to Niger Republic through Kamba border in kebbi State.
He said with this, many of the trapped trucks from Benin were officially cleared at Tsamiya to enter Niger Republic's Tunga Jado border through Kamba border in kebbi State.
The area comptroller said reopening the borders will facilitate and boost trading activities between the countries and as well boost their security as they are committed to keeping the agreements and ensure smooth operation of trading activities at borders.
The representative of both Niger and Benin Republics expressed happiness over the reopening of the borders to their countries. A Niger Republic representative, Commander Maigiro Yahaya Tubil said his country was happy with the decision of Nigeria government to reopen the border to them. "This will help in no small ways to boost the economy of both countries. We are happy our trapped trucks can now move through the country to their destinations", he said.
The District Head of Kamba, Alhaji Muhammed Sarkin Shikon Kamba said he was happy over the government decision to reopen the borders. He said "This is a great moment for us in this area of the state and country. We are overwhelmed by this as many of our people would benefit economically from the federal government action,we are grateful".
