We shut down border due to import of arms, hard drugs - Buhari tells Akufo-Addo

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has told President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana that his border closure policy was to prevent the smuggling of arms and hard drugs into Nigeria.

Buhari made this known while speaking on the sidelines of the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020.

“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,” President Buhari said.

He also expressed regret that the partial border closure was having a “negative economic impact on our neighbours,” but added that “we cannot leave our country, particularly the youths, endangered.”

He added that the severe security challenges in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger has rendered Nigeria the biggest victim.

“We are in fact the biggest victims,” he lamented.

On when the border will be reopened, Buhari stated that the final report from the committee set up on the issue is what will determine the date.

“We will get things sorted out. Our farmers, especially those who grow rice, now have a market, and are happy, and we are also concerned about hard drugs and weapons. Once the committee comes up with its recommendations, we will sit and consider them,” the President said.

President Akufo-Addo, who expressed understanding of the need for Nigeria to protect its citizens, however, pleaded for “an expedited process, because the Nigerian market is significant for certain categories of business people in Ghana.”