Border reopening will be based on Government satisfaction - Buhari

Chinazor Megbolu |

The country’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) has said the partially closed borders will be reopened based on government satisfaction.

He made this known during his New Year broadcast to the nation and stated the reopening be based on the safety and compliance measures expected from the on-going joint security exercise.

Buhari noted that Nigeria has always been a good neighbour to proximate countries and wouldn’t allow its good economic plans to be foiled under the guise of an open border system.

The President reiterated owing the citizens the duty of providing adequate security all times.

“The joint land border security exercise currently taking place is meant to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and security”.

“No one can doubt that we have been good neighbours and good citizens. We have been the helpers and shock-absorbers of the sub-region but we cannot allow our well-planned economic regeneration plans to be sabotaged”.

“As soon as we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed”.

“As Commander-in-Chief, my primary concern is the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens. When I assumed office in May 2015, my first task was to rally our neighbours so that we could confront Boko Haram on a coordinated regional basis, “he said.

Buhari maintained that chaos is not a neighbour any of us hope for.

According to him, “we have been fighting on several fronts: violent extremists, cultists and organised criminal networks.

“It has not been easy. But as we are winning the war, we also look to the challenge of winning the peace, the reconstruction of lives, communities and markets”.

He, however posited that borders in four geopolitical zones of the country have been partially closed since August 20, 2019 leaving import and transit goods trapped.