FG Reels Out Conditions To Reopen Borders

• FG Reels Out Conditions To Reopen Borders

The Federal Government on Monday insisted that the neighbouring countries must respect the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rules of origin before they can be allowed to bring their goods to Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, stated this while reeling out the conditions that must be met by Benin and Niger Republics before it can consider reopening the nation’s border.

He said any of the goods imported from ECOWAS member states must have the 30 percent local input.

The Minister stressed that any imported goods for the Nigeria market must also come in its original form and be escorted directly from the port of member states to Nigerian border, noting that the Federal Government would not allow repackaging of goods anymore.

“On the transportation of goods within ECOWAS and across borders, we will now insist on proper recognised packaging of those goods.

“No longer will we have goods, you know, of all shapes and sizes just going through the borders. We are going to have accepted conditions for the packaging of goods that will be transported by road across our borders.”

Speaking further, Onyeama said an official passport is the only travel document allowed for anybody coming into the country through the land borders.

According to the Minister, the nation would insist on dismantling all the warehouses along the nation’s common borders.

“We absolutely insist on the dismantling of all the warehouses along our common borders,” he said.

Onyeama said the conditions would be presented to both countries at a tripartite meeting scheduled for the next two weeks in Nigeria.

“Within the next two weeks, a tripartite committee is to be convened and hosted here in Nigeria, comprising the delegation- committee from Benin republic, from Niger and Nigeria.

“So, each country will come with the heads of the ministries of a foreign affair, interior, finance, the customs, immigration and the NIA, the security segment. So this meeting will take place within the next two weeks.

“This is an absolute condition that will not be compromised,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said January 31, 2020, contained in a memo approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, is not a terminal date for the entire border closure but the end of the first phase of the operation.