Seme Border Remains Closed as Officials Await Directive

By Ahmed Rahma

Activities are yet to commence at Nigeria’s land border with the Benin Republic, Seme border, despite the directive of the federal government on Wednesday that it should be reopened immediately.

Two days ago, after the weekly Federal Executive Council n(FEC) meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said the Seme border and three other land borders closed in August 2019 should be reopened with immediate effect.

But reports suggest that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the others are still expecting official directives to reopen the borders.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, human and vehicular movements across the border post were restricted as the frontier remained under lock and intending travellers were denied exit at Seme on Thursday evening.

An anonymous official of customs informed the news agency that security agencies at the border post were still expecting official directives to reopen the border.

“We heard about the reopening of the four land borders from the news on Wednesday, but we are still waiting for directives from the head office in Abuja.

“We cannot just open the border like that. As you can see, when the border was closed, they introduced Joint Border Patrol which comprises the army, immigration, police and customs.

“Anytime they ask us to open the border, we will open it,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying.

It was also reported that movement restrictions and checking of goods and vehicles remained in place at more than 20 checkpoints mounted by customs, immigration and police along Badagry Expressway and commercial activities were yet to pick up at the Seme market due to the continued closure of the border.

Also, the Illela border linking Sokoto State in Nigeria to Konni, Niger Republic remained closed and the Comptroller General, Sokoto/Zamfara command, Ma’aji A. A, explained that no directive has been given officially.

“Yes, the government has declared some of the land borders open, but in administration, you know how things work. Here at Sokoto Nigeria Customs Command, we are yet to receive the signal.

“I am here to see the level of preparation for the reopening of the border. I am sure the traders are eager to return to their legitimate businesses.

“As soon as the reopening directive is communicated to us, we shall comply immediately,” he stated.