Niger Republic: Customs boss in Katsina, monitors FG's order on border closure

Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, toured Katsina State Command of the Service on Friday to ensure compliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to close all Nigeria’s land borders linking Nigeria with Niger Republic, pending a peaceful resolution.

Adeniyi, who addressed newsmen on Friday at Jibia Magama Border, said the aim of the visit was to ensure compliance with the directives of President Tinubu on closesure of all land borders with Niger Republic.

The Customs boss explained that the decision of the Federal Government is in the interest of stability not just in Nigeria but in the West African subregion, especially for communities along the border areas.

Adeniyi urged security agencies in the state to focus on providing effective coverage at the Jibia-Magama and Jibia-Maje border as well as other smaller outlets.

He called on all other sister security agencies with presence in Jibia to work together diligently to ensure that there is full compliance to the directives by ensuring full blockage of Katsina State border with Niger Republic.

“The decision has been taken and it is now our responsibility to implement it by ensuring that there is full blockage of the border. Both outbound and outward movement of cargo for now should be suspended until further notice,” he stressed.

The Acting Customs boss appealed to people in the affected border community to exercise patients as other diplomatic fronts as well as the current engagement between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger will result in some kind of compliance that is very favourable so that the traders and importers can have their businesses done in an atmosphere of peace.