By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the reopening of the Nigeria/Benin Republic border at Tsamiya in Kebbi State. The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made the disclosure during engagement with stakeholders in Birnin kebbi on Saturday.
He said there was a strong commitment from the Benin Republic Government to see that Nigeria plays it's brotherly role and allow the trapped trucks into the country and a strong commitment from the office of the security adviser to see that the country borders are secured and not pose any threat to national security.
"We are now banking on the readiness of kebbi State Government, the President and our counterpart in Benin Republic to use kebbi as transit point when the Tsamiya border is reopened", he said.
He added that there would be commitment and methods to ensure that they do not compromise the national security. And would ensure the goods are not diverted and the economic prosperity will have impart on the border communities. He said "This is a very good thing to happen to kebbi State".
The customs boss said technology would be deployed to monitor the trucks coming through the border and any truck found outside the transit corridor will be seized. He said the essence of the transit is to facilitate trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic and it must be done in a way that it will not jeopardize national security and its economy.
CCG said Kebbi is important to the customs because of its strategic location, the River Niger and it's borders with countries of Niger and Benin Republics."If we say if Kebbi coughs we catch cold in Abuja, it's because there must be security before the customs can operate smoothly and generate revenue for the nation". He said the stakeholders are important in the operations of the customs in tackling smuggling of drugs, goods and other contrabands considering the activities of the criminal elements .
Earlier, the National President of the Onion producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria Dr Isah Aliyu said the Tsamiya border has served Nigeria and Benin Republic with goods and trade from other countries. He said onion and other perishable goods trading from Aliero in kebbi are moved through the borders.
He said "Prices have been high because the borders are closed and the perishable goods could not be moved through the borders. Every hours of delay on the movement of perishable goods leads to loses". He Urged the government to allow the goods to be moved through the borders with controlled and managed measures to increase the revenue based of the state and customs and reduce insecurity.
The Benin Republic official, Immora Idrisu at the stakeholders engagement commended the Nigeria government for the support and decision to reopen the border to facilitate trade and cooperation between the two countries. He said the two countries have decided to provide the necessary security at the corridor for smooth trade cooperation at the border. "We are happy Tsamiya border would be open soon for us to reconnect with Nigeria.This will boost trade and infrastructural development along the corridor", he said.
Responding, Governor Nasir Idris said his administration was ready to support the federal government on the necessary logistics and infrastructure needed to facilitate smooth operation at the Tsamiya border. He said "Kebbi is a direct beneficiary and the reopening of the border with kebbi as the transit point will boost direct and indirect employment for our people
