The National Assembly, through its joint committee on Industry, Trade and Investment, has declared that Nigeria is fooling itself over border closure in view of cross border banditry taking place in states sharing borders with Niger and the Republic of Chad.
Lamentation on closed but porous borders came to the fore during 2025 budget defence session the joint committee had with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
First to lament on the issue of porous closed borders was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Fadaunsi – PDP Osun East – who said it is better for the borders to be practically opened and not technically closed.
He said the exit of Niger Republic and Chad from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, with attendant opening of their borders to Nigerians was worsening the menace of insecurity across the affected states and by extension, compounding the Nation’s economic woes.
In her own lamentation, another member of the committee, Hon Fatima Talba representing Nangero/Potiskum Federal Constituency of Yobe State in the House of Representatives said as far as she and her constituents were concerned, the borders were opened and not closed.
In his remarks on the border closure, Paul Kalejaiye representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State in the House of Representatives wondered the form of border closure policy Nigeria is implementing.
The Committee chaired by Senator 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 on the way out of the border closure.
Oduwole had earlier in her presentation to the committee said the sum of N3.8billion is earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2025 fiscal year, N4.65billion for personnel cost, N1.45billion for overhead and projected revenue of N2 4billion.
Oduwole had earlier in her presentation to the committee said the sum of N3.8billion is earmarked for capital expenditure in the 2025 fiscal year, N4.65billion for personnel cost, N1.45billion for overhead and projected revenue of N2 4billion.