President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said the issue of partial
closure of Nigeria’s land border to goods from neighbouring countries
will be determined by report of tripartite committee made up of Nigeria,
Benin and Niger Republic.
President Buhari, who received President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of
Burkina Faso at the Presidential Villa, said Nigeria’s decision to
partially close the border was purely to safeguard national security.
The President of Burkina Faso is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee
mandated to resolve the issue of border closure.
“Our major problem is security — the inflow of weapons, ammunition and
drugs. We have witnessed a decline in banditry using such weapons since
the partial closure of the border. Also, our farmers are now able to
sell their rice since we stopped the inflow of foreign rice, usually
dumped in the country,” he said.
President Buhari said Nigeria was very much mindful of the concerns of
neighbouring countries on the issue, assuring that his administration
will find an early and enduring solution.
“I will work as fast as I can as soon as I receive the report,” the
President added.
Earlier, the President of Burkina Faso told President Buhari that he
came on the visit, following the mandate of ECOWAS to resolve the issues
that culminated in the partial closure of the border, adding that some
of the challenges had been discussed, and agreed on, urging the Nigerian
leader to reconsider the position of the country.