Border closure only on paper, lawmakers slam government policy

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment has described as a ruse the closure of the nation’s land borders given the spike in cross-border banditry in states sharing borders with Niger and Chad Republic.

The scourge of porous borders was mentioned during the 2025 budget defence of the Ministry at the National Assembly Complex on Friday.

Lamenting the menace of porous borders despite their closure, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Francis Fadaunsi (PDP, Osun East) said it’s better for the borders to be opened.

According to him, the exit of Niger Republic and Chad from the Economic Community of West African States and the resultant opening of their borders to Nigerians are worsening the menace of insecurity across the affected states and invariably compounding the Nation’s economic woes.

He said, “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 4m tonnes shortfall is being smuggled into the country since local producers are only producing 3m tonnes out of the expected consumption rate of 7m tonnes.”

On her part, a member of the Committee representing Nangero/Potiskum Federal Constituency, Yobe State, Fatima Talba lamented that the borders are only closed on paper, saying, “Going by free movement of people and even criminals across the borders, it is time for us, to stop fooling ourselves with border closure.”

Similarly, a Lagos lawmaker representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Paul Kalejaiye faulted the nation’s border closure policy, adding that Nigerians deserve to know the true state of their borders.

“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.

The Committee chaired by Suleiman Umar (APC, Kwara North), accordingly urged the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole who came for the budget defence session, to liaise with the Presidency to arrive at a solution on the continued on the border closure.

The Minister had earlier in her presentation to the committee, said the sum of N3.8bn is earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2025 fiscal year, N4.65bn for personnel cost, N1.45bn for overhead while projected revenue stands at N24bn.