No Show On Nigeria’s Expected Reopening Of Its Borders Today

Expectations that Nigeria will announce the reopening of its borders today appear to have been frustrated.

As at the time of going to press, no such announcement had been made by Africa’s most populous country.

The expectations had been stirred up yesterday, following Accra-based Citi FM’s report that it had intercepted a memo that had been exchanged between Nigerian authorities on the subject.

According to the story, the memo had been signed by the Comptroller of Nigeria’s Immigration Service, Victor David Dimka, and that it had portrayed that a decision would be announced today, Friday 31st January.

The story had led to members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) welcoming the development. However, as at the time of going to press today, the decision had not yet been announced. It is not clear why.

The Nigerian government in August last year closed its borders to Benin and by extension, other West African countries, as part of measures to prevent the smuggling of cheap goods and weapons into the country.

The blockade has had effects on trade in the West African sub-region; compelling some to use alternative routes for their exports.