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.
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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.
Nigeria’s border will be opened; because DISCIPLINE at the border is what is needed such that illegalities will be checkmated from coming into and out of the country and not closure. When any government closed her border, it only shown that the government and her agencies lack control to affirm authority and discipline at the border. For instance, the United States of America did not close her border, it fence it to checkmate and control illegal entries. Israel also fenced her border against aggression. In these instances, no one questions their internal polity because it was purely internal affair and the best interest of their nation. When the border is closed, the masses suffer, and the poor neighbors live in pain. Notwithstanding, no country, or a man can live in isolation, God created us to need one another, and to be our brothers’ keepers. If the border is discipline, closure is unnecessary. Border will be opened! The grace of God is my strength.