The House of Representatives has requested that the Federal Government reopen the nation’s borders with Niger Republic.
The call, which is expected to have far-reaching implications, targets the reopening of specific border crossings, including Maigatari, Mai’Aduwa, Kongwalam, and Illela.
This significant resolution was reached during a plenary session held on Tuesday, following a motion presented by Aliyu Madaki, a member representing Kano.
The motion was embraced and adopted with overwhelming support from the Assembly.
The context for the border reopening request dates back to August of the previous year, when the Federal Government decided to close the borders with Niger Republic following a military coup in the neighboring country.
The move was in line with an embargo imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
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It is important to note that the closure was an outcome of an ECOWAS directive aimed at restricting cargo movement rather than a declaration of war.
This development underscores a growing consensus among Nigerian authorities, including the Senate and key stakeholders, that diplomatic measures should be employed to resolve the political turmoil in Niger.
Notably, Bola Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of ECOWAS, has faced repeated appeals to engage in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis.
The specific border crossings under consideration, Maigatari in Jigawa, Kongwalam in Katsina, and Illela in Sokoto, serve as crucial hubs for substantial international trade between Nigerians and residents of neighboring nations such as Niger, Mali, Chad, and Cameroon.
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The border closure, according to proponents of the motion, has inflicted “indescribable sufferings” on the local population and has contributed to strained relations between Nigerian citizens and their Nigerien counterparts.
Also, the shutdown has inadvertently led to a surge in smuggling activities, with an increasing number of local youth engaging in illicit and, in some cases, criminal activities, which threatens to exacerbate existing security challenges in Nigeria.
Advocates for reopening the borders argue that doing so and effectively regulating cross-border trade will foster peaceful and harmonious relations between Nigeria and its neighboring countries. They believe that it will also help curb the proliferation of smuggling and other trans-border criminal activities that have negatively impacted the nation’s economy and global image.
The motion, championed by Aliyu Madaki and endorsed by the Green Parliamentary Assembly, received resounding approval after being put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House.