By Joy Odor
The National Assembly on Friday informed that Nigeria is fooling itself over border closure in view of cross border banditry taking place in states sharing borders with Niger and Republic of Chad.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (PDP Osun East) made the lamentation during the 2025 budget defence session of the Senate Joint Committee on Trade and Investment in Abuja.
The Lawmaker affirmed that it is better for the borders to be practically opened and not technically closed.
He disclosed that the exit of Niger Republic and Chad from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with attendant opening of their borders to Nigerians are worsening the menace of insecurity across the affected states and by extension, compounding the Nation’s economic woes.
According to him, the border closure is hampering economic fortunes of the country because rather than curb smuggling, it encourages it.
“For example on rice production alone, the largest percentage of 4 million tonnes shortfall, is being smuggled into the country since local producers are only producing 3 million tonnes out the expected consumption rate of 7 million tonnes “ he said.
In his contribution, Hon Paul Kalejaiye representing Ajeromi/ Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives, wondered the form of border closure policy Nigeria is implementing .
”We need to even ask the question on the border policy being implemented. Are all borders across the Nation closed or those closed are from a segment of the country“ he asked.
In his view on the border, the
Committee chaired by Senator Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC Kwara North) urged the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole who came for the budget defence session to liaise with the Presidency on way out of the border closure .
Oduwole had earlier in her presentation to the Committee, said the sum of N3.8 billion is earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2025 fiscal year, N4.65billion for personnel cost, N1.45 billion for overhead and projected revenue of N2.4 billion.
However, the Committee ordered her Ministry to go and correct some errors observed in the documents submitted, particularly N59 billion erroneously written as payment for the N50 billion project.
