Nigeria has closed all land borders into the country and across states ahead of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, scheduled for tomorrow, March 18 across the country.
A memo by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Anthony Akuneme, said that the 24-hour border closure will end at midnight on Sunday, March 19.
The directive, issued by the service Comptroller-General, Isah Idris, read: “The Federal Government has directed the total closure of all land borders effective from 00:00 hours on Saturday, March 18, 2023, to 00:00 hours on Sunday, March 19, 2023.
“Accordingly, all command comptrollers, especially those in the border states are to ensure strict enforcement of this directive.”
While the closure involves borders with neighbouring Cameroun, Niger, Chad and the Benin Republic, state governments will be responsible for the control of movement in and out of their jurisdictions during the 24-hour period.
The Ministry of Interior had earlier hinted today, that states will ensure the stoppage of the movement of persons and goods into their borders during the electoral exercise.
The March 18 governorship election, which will be conducted in 28 states, is the second leg of the 2023 general elections.
Source: The PUNCH.
