President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has appealed to his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari to reopen the country’s borders because it is negatively affecting his country’s economy.
In a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020 in London today, January 20, President Akufo-Addo said that his appeal for the reopening of the borders became necessary “because the Nigerian market is significant for certain categories of business people in Ghana.”
The Ghanaian leader acknowledged the need for Nigeria to protect is citizens but still pleaded for “an expedited process” towards the reopening of the border.
This was after President Buhari had said that the partial closure of Nigeria’s borders was not just because of food products, particularly rice, which were being smuggled into Nigeria, but also because of arms and ammunition, as well as hard drugs, which were also being smuggled into Nigeria.
Buhari said that he cannot keep his eyes open and watch the lives of youths being destroyed by cheap hard drugs, while the security of the country is compromised by the influx of arms.
“When most of the vehicles carrying rice and other food products through our land borders are intercepted, you find cheap hard drugs, and small arms, under the food products. This has terrible consequences for any country.”
PresidentvBuhari regretted that the partial border closure is having “negative economic impact on our neighbours.
“we cannot leave our country, particularly the youths, endangered.”
He said that the opening of the borders would not happen till the final report of a committee set up on the matter is submitted and considered.
“Once the committee comes up with its recommendations, we will sit and consider them.”
