President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate opening of four land borders over a year after they were shut.
The President on Wednesday also directed other land borders to be opened by December 31, 2020.
In August 2019, the President ordered closed Nigeria’s land border with Benin, preventing the import of goods.
The move significantly affected trade in foodstuffs, which had already been affected by various past import restrictions.
The order was part of an effort to tackle smuggling and associated corruption, but also to spur the domestic agricultural industry.
On October 14, Nigeria then ordered closed all of Nigeria’s borders with Benin, as well as those with all other countries, for the same reasons.
Imports have since been coming into Nigeria through sea ports, where customs duties were easily imposed than at land borders.
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However, in November 2020, Federal Government reportedly permitted Dangote Cement to resume exports across Nigerian land borders.
The new development was announced by Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed after the week’s virtual FEC meeting.
She however noted that restriction on the importation of some commodities, like rice and other products, would continue to be enforced.
The borders opened for now include Seme Border in the Southwest, Ilela Border in the Northwest, Mfun Border in the Southsouth and Maigatari Border in the Northwest.
