Nigeria, Benin, Others Meet Over Border Security

The federal government has said it would join forces with neighbouring countries in a bid to end smuggling of goods into Nigeria, prior to the opening of the land borders.

This was disclosed on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, via its official twitter account (@NigeriaMFA.)

At the Anti-Smuggling Committee meeting between Niger, Benin Republic and Nigeria, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, stated that the three countries will be working towards stopping the illegal movement of goods as well as reopening of the land borders.

According to Onyeama, the Joint Force Against Smuggling set up by Nigeria, Niger and Benin will among other things,  establish a monitoring and evaluation committee comprising the Ministers of Finance, Trade and Foreign Affairs, as well as, Heads of Customs, Immigration and National Security Advisers of the countries involved, and they are to facilitate and enhance the suppression of smuggled goods and other related matters.

Also, he stated that the task force will ensure persons from the three countries enter and exit with valid Ecowas travel documents through recognised control posts.

He further said that  a Joint Border Patrol Team comprising the Police, Customs, Immigration, Navy and State Security Services of the 3 countries, will be established to ensure compliance with agreements.

The tweet reads in part:  “The three countries would look at the modalities of implementing the whole regime of anti-smuggling regulations that have been agreed upon. After the meeting, they would, hopefully, be able to recommend formally for the reopening of the borders.