ECOWAS Sets Up Committee To Probe Nigeria Border Closure

The Economic Committee of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has inaugurated a committee to study and provide full report on issues concerning the closure of the Nigerian land borders.

Bloomberg reports that the body reached the decision on Sunday at an extraordinary meeting of the heads of government of West African countries 33rd AU summit in Ethiopia.

In August 2019, president Muhammadu Buhari led administration issued a directive for closure of the countries land borders with Benin and other neighbouring countries.

The Administration said it took the decision to curb smuggling and protect local industries.

According to the report, the committee is headed by President of Burkina Fatso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, and its expected to examine all the countries affected by the closure of the Nigerian land borders and submit findings to the body for further decisions.

“The President of Burkina Faso is charged with undertaking a full study of the situation, make a report and then we take it from there,” the Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama as said.

The statement however provided no time limit for the submission of the report by committee.

Buhari had in July 2019 signed up to the $3 trillion African free trade agreement which is aimed at making the continent an economic bloc.