Goods with total monetary value of N12.362billion were seized during the more than a year closure of Nigeria's land borders to its West African neigbours, the Federal Government has revealed.
Edu-Biznews recalled that the presidency between August 20, 2019 and December 17,2020 ordered closure of the land borders, to checkmate the smuggling of foods and other ban items into the country as well as Ilicit activities.
The Minister Of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who made this known on Monday to newsmen in Lagos, explained that the seizures so far during the period included 157,511 – 50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice, 10,447 bags of NPK fertiliser used for making explosives and 18,630 jerry cans of vegetable oil.
Mohammed who described the border closure as a huge success, also said no fewer than 1,375 irregular migrants were arrested while the border drill code-named, ”Exercise Swift Response, ” lasted.
The “Exercise Swift Response” according to the minister,was launched as part of efforts to secure the land and maritime borders in the Southsouth, Southwest, Northcentral and Northwest from smuggling and irregular migration.
He added that the exercise coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was aimed at boosting the national economy and strengthening the border security.
According to him, Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the armed forces of Nigeria as well as the Nigeria Police force and other security and intelligence agencies were involved in the exercise.
The minister who further revealed that the exercise had saved resources and enhanced national security, also explained that the agricultural sector had received a boost from the drill, with rice production now nearing the level of self-sufficiency for the country while poultry production was at a high level.
His words,“The importation of drugs and proliferation of small arms, which usually fuel violent extremism and terrorism in the country, have been significantly curtailed"
“For instance, 95 per cent of illicit drugs and weapons that are being used for acts of terrorism and kidnapping in the country comes in through our porous borders. However, since the border drill started, this importation has been drastically reduced.”
The minister lauded the high level of integrity and professionalism displayed by security Operatives during the period of borders closure in the country
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