NATIONAL: By reopening our borders, we’re fully open for business, Buhari tells Ghana, others

PRESIDENT Buhari has said the country is ready to start business transactions with its West African neighbours like Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic amongst others with the recent reopening of its borders.

He also assured business owners in the country that the development would boost the fortunes of their businesses in the year 2021.

He stated this in his New Year broadcast on Friday.

He said, “With the recent opening of our borders, we expect that the pent-up demand of legitimate cross-border and international trade will boost the fortunes of the many small businesses and agricultural enterprises that depend on Nigeria’s trade and commerce.

“The message to our West African neighbours is that Nigeria is once again fully open for those willing to conduct business in a fair and equitable way.”

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

But the Federal Government on December 16 ordered the immediate reopening of the Seme Border in Lagos State, Illela Border in Sokoto State, Maigatari Border in Jigawa State, and Mfun Border in Cross River State.

The government had promised that other borders would be reopened on or before Dec.30, 2020 but so far there ha not been an official announcement to that effect.