President Muhammadu Buhari, on
Monday, said two months into closure of Nigeria’s land border, smuggling
activities had been curbed.
Noting that he was not sure of
re-opening date, Buhari said the decision will save the country billions of
naira on import bills.
Receiving a delegation of Katsina
State Elders Forum at his country home in Daura, the President said the
country’s domestic fuel consumption had dropped by more than 30 per cent,
following closure of land borders.
Buhari said the borders will only
be opened when “the situation improves”.
The President commended the
actions taken by the President of Niger Republic, Muhammadou Youssoufou, including
the dismissal of officials and a ban on use of the country as a dumping ground
for Nigeria-bound smuggled goods.
The president noted that the
measures taken by the President of Niger were helpful and supportive.
Buhari acknowledged the hardship
of border communities following the ban on sale of fuel at stations 20
kilometres to the border, a restriction that also saw to the closure of all
fuel stations in his native home, Daura.
”Farmers must be protected.
Dishonesty is deep rooted in the country. Otherwise the border closer would not
have been warranted,” he said.
According to him, the restriction
was a temporary measure as the Nigerian Customs Service needed to ascertain
outlets involved in real sale of products and those being used for smuggling.
President Buhari told the
delegation that he intends forging ahead with poverty alleviation schemes and
the agricultural and livestock reforms started by the administration in the
first term, since the election was behind him and a government now in place.
He explained that the reforms,
especially those relating to the settlement of livestock herders would take
time to accomplish, assuring that his deliberate choice of tested farmers as
his past and current ministers of agriculture was informed by the need to carry
his vision through.
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