Customs, Immigration deny closure of borders

The Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Services have denied that the Federal Government did not close the border posts in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the officers in charge of Customs and Immigration at the Illela border post in Sokoto State made this known when they spoke with newsmen in Illela on Tuesday.

NAN reports that the denial followed speculation that the Federal Government had ordered the closure of the borders in the two states for some undisclosed reasons.

“The border post had not been closed and no such directive was given by the Federal Government.

“Our officers and men are on duty diligently for 24 hours, non-stop,” Mr Agbetuye Peter, the officer in charge of Customs office at the post, said.

Peter promised to continue to work round the clock to secure the nation’s border with the neghbouring Niger Republic.

Also, Mr Toyin Saka of the Immigration Service corroborated Peter’s views, saying that the speculations were baseless and unfounded.

“As you can see, our officers and men are on duty for 24-hours and we are running three shifts to effectively secure Nigeria’s borders,” Saka said.

NAN observed that officials of Department of State Services, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Police, among others, were seen securing the borders.