Prof Patrick Lumumba, former director of the anti-corruption commission in Kenya, has spoken about Nigeria’s border closure and its attendant effects.
The Herald gathered that Lumumba who made this known in Lagos after a lecture said that he understood the reasons Nigeria decided to shut its borders.
He added that the federal government was too big for a country like Benin Republic to threaten over the policy. He said: “I can understand why Nigeria is closing its borders but I am of the view that Nigeria is too big to be threatened by Benin.”
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Lumumba, however, noted that if Nigeria had strong regulations that were obeyed by the country’s citizens, then there would have been no need to close the borders.
According to him, “The medium-term is to look at the movement of goods and determine their source of origin so that Nigerian laws are not abused and to protect the Nigerian industries be it agriculture and textile.
“I agree with the government that when borders are porous, individual take advantage of it to commit criminality, but yet, I believe borders can be open without being porous.”
He urged neighboring countries to obey any memorandum of understanding they signed with Nigeria, saying disobedience should carry consequences.
Meanwhile, The Herald gathered that Abraham Azeigbe, Access Bank Group Head, Retail Operations, said the closure of the nation’s border by the federal government would have long-time positive effects on the nation’s economy.
Azeigbe said the positive impact of the closure might not be felt immediately but it would bring about a boost to the nation’s economy in the long run.
He spoke at the opening of a new branch of Access Bank at Apomu, in Isokan Local Government Area of Osun on Saturday.
Azeigbe said at the long run, the policy would also stimulate local productivity, by regulating the influx of goods coming into the country and thereby turning Nigeria into a vibrant economy nation.
He said the opening of a new branch of the bank in the town was aimed at bringing banking closer to the people at the grassroots.