In the wake of successes recorded by the closure of the nation's land border, the Federal Government had yet to decide a terminal date when the borders would be reopened to neighbouring countries.
Speaking during a chat with journalists on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, said the Federal Government had held strategic meetings with the Benin Republic and Niger to reach an agreement on modalities for the border reopening.
She noted that the fallouts of the meeting were the setting up of a joint border patrol team made up of security personnel from customs, Air force and other security agencies.
The minister said the decision to reopen the border would be based on recommendations from the patrol team on whether Niger and the Benin Republic have complied with trade protocols.
On his part, the honourable Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Richard Adebayo, disclosed that the ministry is currently carrying out a review of the country’s trade policy as well as the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan to reflect current economic realities.
He noted that the automotive policy is being reviewed, adding that a meeting would be held with stakeholders in the auto sector on January 28 to get their input to the policy.
He said after the stakeholders’ meeting, the executive would present a bill to the National Assembly for the policy to become law.
Recall that the Federal Government had in August closed its borders to neighbouring countries in an exercise code-named operation Exercise Swift Response.