NEWS; President Buhari approves January 31, 2020 date to reopen land border

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the
extension of the joint border operations code-
named Exercise Swift Response which has led
to the total shutdown of land frontiers across
the country.
The land borders are expected to be reopened
on January 31, 2020, thus dashing the hopes of
entrepreneurs in the West African region who
were optimistic that the Nigerian government will
end the military exercise before Christmas.
In a circular dated November 1, 2019 (NCS/ENF/
ABJ/221/S.45) and signed by the Comptroller of
Customs in charge of enforcement, Victor David
Dimka, to the Sector Coordinators, joint border
operations drill (Exercise Swift Response),
Sectors 1, 2, 3 & 4, it directed them to note the
new development and comply accordingly.
The circular reads:
“I am directed to inform you that it is observed
that despite the overwhelming success of the
operation, particularly the security and economic
benefits to the nation, a few strategic objectives
are you to be achieved.
“Against this background, Mr President has
approved the extension of the exercise to January
31,2020.
“Consequently, you are requested to convey the
development to all personnel for their awareness
and guidance.
“Meanwhile, allowance for personnel sustenance
and fuelling of vehicles for the period of
extension will be paid as soon as possible.
“This is for your information and necessary
action, please.”
On August 20, the Comptroller-General of the
Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, announced
the commencement of “Exercise Swift
Response”, a joint operation involving all military,
paramilitary and intelligence agencies, in
government’s efforts to sanitise the land borders
that have become notorious for cross border
smuggling that assumed frightening proportions
in recent times.
While contraband worth over N1.4 billion has
been seized and various arrests made since the
crackdown against smugglers began, some
economic analysts say the heart of the problem
is a network of wealthy smuggling cartels
facilitated by corrupt border officials, which the
government needs to urgently address.
More so, entrepreneurs who depend on
legitimate trans-border trade are gnashing their
teeth as their economic fortunes have declined
with the closure of the land borders.