By Bliss Okperan
The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to reopen borders shut down by the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the northern part of the country to reduce the hardships witnessed by residents of the region.
The green chamber of the National Assembly made this appeal when one of its members, Mr Aliyu Sani Madaki, raised a motion at the plenary on Tuesday on the issue.
The lawmaker said that the closure was causing an indescribable hardship to the people and also causing hatred between them and the neighbouring Nigerien citizens.
Recall that after a military coup in the neighbouring Niger Republic, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctioned the country, with the Nigerian government closing all the land borders.
Those affected were the border towns of Maigatari in Jigawa State, Kongwalam in Katsina State and Illela in Sokoto State, as well as Kano State, all known for their large markets.
Mr Madaki said since the action was taken, people in the areas have found it difficult to transact business, affecting the economic life of the inhabitants.
According to him, the closure of the borders, where large-scale international trades take place between Nigerians and people from Niger, Mali, Chad, Cameroon and other neighbouring countries, have been greatly affected.
He urged the parliament to prevail on the government to reopen the borders for trade.
