The Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, has confirmed that the Idiroko border in Ogun State has been reopened.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Makinde clarified that the Idiroko border was reopened in 2022.
The statement contradicted a viral video that showed some residents of Idiroko jubilating over the border reopening on Monday.
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Makinde also mentioned that other land borders in the state, such as Imeko, Ohumbe, Ijofin, and Ijoun, remain closed.
NCS boss went on to state that the Jibiya border in Katsina, Kamba in Kebbi, and Ikom in Cross River have also been reopened.
He said:
“In Ogun State, as we speak today we have more than six approved borders, Imeko, Ijofin, Ijoun, Ohunbe, we have six of them. It is only Idiroko that is opened now, the others are still under lock.
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“Now, we have a new administration and we are just public servants, we implement policies whatever Abuja says we do.
“So, Idiroko is open 24/7, but the others, we don’t have powers to open them. If you do business in those borders, we will seize your goods.”
In August 2019, Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari shut all land borders as part of efforts to curtail smuggling and boost local production of rice.
However, in 2020, Buhari ordered the reopening of borders in Seme in Lagos, Illela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa, and Mfum in Cross River.
In April 2022, Buhari also ordered the reopening of four more borders including Idiroko in Ogun, Jibiya in Katsina, Kamba in Kebbi, and Ikom in Cross River, according to reports.
