The National Assembly, through its joint committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment, has criticized Nigeria’s border closure policy, saying it is ineffective in curbing cross-border crimes such as banditry and smuggling.
The lawmakers spoke on the frustrating policy during the 2025 budget defense session with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, buttressing their points on the ongoing security and economic challenges linked to the porous borders with Niger and Chad.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Fadaunsi, argued that the current border closure policy is counterproductive, suggesting that it might be more beneficial to open the borders officially rather than maintain the illusion of a closure that fails to prevent smuggling and insecurity.
His words: “Border closure is hampering economic fortunes of the country, because rather than curb smuggling, it encourages it’. For instance, with rice production, local producers only manage to meet three million tonnes of the seven million tonnes required, leaving a significant shortfall filled by smuggled goods”
Hon. Fatima Talba representing Nangero/Potiskum Federal Constituency in Yobe State, concurred on similar sentiments, stating that in her experience, the borders appear open, given the unchecked movement of people and criminals.
According to her, “We must stop deceiving ourselves about border closure. Going by free movement of people and even criminals across the borders, it is time for us, to stop fooling ourselves with border closure “.
Hon. Paul Kalejaiye (Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos State) questioned the consistency of the policy, asking whether the closure applied to all borders or was selectively enforced in certain regions.
In response to the concerns, the joint committee, chaired by Senator Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North), urged the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to engage with the Presidency to seek a comprehensive solution to the issues.
On her part, Dr. Oduwole, during her presentation, outlined the ministry’s budget for 2025, which includes N3.8 billion for capital expenditure, 4.65 billion naira for personnel costs, and 1.45 billion naira for overhead, with a projected revenue of 24 billion naira.
However, the committee identified errors in the submitted documents, as they raised concerns over a project initially budgeted at N50 million, but later awarded for N59 million, resulting in an extra nine million naira in the 2024 budget of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.
While defending the 2025 budget, the Minister and her team attributed the discrepancy to a “typographical error.” The Committee, however, instructed the Minister to rectify the error before the budget document could be accepted.
