According to Nigeria’s “Priority Times” report on November 3, Nigerian President Buhari has approved the extension of the border closure until January 31, 2020.
Dimuka, Director-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, announced the contents of the memorandum of understanding and sent it to relevant departments. The Nigerian Customs stated that although the “Closing the Border” operation has been a great success, especially in favor of the country’s security and economic interests, there are still some strategic goals that have yet to be achieved.
Some Nigerians criticized the border embargo, saying it affected the government’s trade commitments with West African countries and ACFTA, and also caused the price of originally imported products to rise.
Since the closure, Nigeria Customs has announced an increase in revenue, and state-owned oil company NNPC has reported a reduction in the amount of gasoline smuggled out of Nigeria.
