Shehu Sani to FG: Border closure increased hardship, achieved no result

A former member of the National Assembly, who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, Shehu Sani, has said the closure of Nigeria’s land borders did not yield any result.

Sani said the closure of the borders rather worsened the economic situation of the country and inflicted hardship on Nigerians.

The ex-senator spoke on Wednesday on a PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.

His remarks came shortly after the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, announced after a Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja that four of the nation’s land borders have been reopened.

Nigeria had in August 2019 closed its land borders to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms and agricultural products into country from neighbouring West African nations.

But Sani said the 16-month border closure did not help boost the country’s agricultural output or rice production as claimed by the Federal Government.

“We have not achieved anything by closing the borders but have only inflicted hardship on the border communities and Nigerians.

“The closure of borders has not stopped herdsmen and bandits from moving in with weapons. Punch