The Senate has commended the recent decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to temporarily close all land borders to address smuggling and its impact on the Nigerian economy.
The commendation came after the consideration of a motion titled: “The impact of border closure on the Nigerian economy”, sponsored by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) at Wednesday’s plenary.
The Senate, in its resolutions, urged the Nigerian Customs Service and security services to intensify the curbing of smuggling across the borders, and assured them of the upper chamber’s support in their onerous task of ridding Nigeria of smuggled goods and services.
Leading the debate, Senator Aliero said, “Fuel smuggling has significantly reduced thereby saving the country billions of scarce foreign exchange spent by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to import fuel into Nigeria.”
Aliero noted that smuggling of textile and vegetable oil imported from Malaysia through the land borders has negatively affected local production and grounded it to a halt.
“The Federal Government’s action has led to the revival of local production of vegetable oil, and increased employment generation,” the senator said.
