The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has debunked reports about the reopening of the country’s borders by President Bola Tinubu.
Controller of the NCS, Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, made the clarification following a viral video of him opening the barricades at the Idiroko border with Benin Republic.
He said the Tinubu-led administration is yet to reopen all the land borders hitherto closed by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2019, ex-president Buhari closed all land borders to stop illegal importation of some goods, including foreign parboiled rice, firearms and others.
Two years later, the Buhari administration reopened a few of the land borders and others have since remained shut despite the cries from Nigerians.
Reacting to the trending video, Makinde, noted it was an old footage and added that the present administration has not ordered the reopening of all land borders.
He reminded Nigerians that the Buhari administration in 2022 reopened the Idiroko border and a few others, saying other ones remain closed until further directives from the Federal Government.
Bamidele said except for the Idiroko entry, the remaining approved borders in Ogun State like Ijofin, Imeko, Ijoun and Ohunbe are still under lock and key.
“It is only Idiroko that is open now; the others are still under lock,” he said, asking the masses to disregard the viral video.
“Now, we have a new administration. A new administration will come with its own policies. There should not be any misconceptions. We are just public servants, we implement policies. Whatever Abuja says, we do,” he added.
He emphasised that; “Idiroko border is open 24/7, but the others, if you do business in those borders, we will seize your goods.”