The Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede, has disclosed that only President Buhari can decide when the borders will be re-opened.
The Immigration boss said his office has no power to open the border which was closed since August 2019.
Babandede made the declaration in Abuja during a project validation meeting with his senior officers, saying the borders are not fully closed since they are being opened from 6 am – 6 pm.
The NIS chief said the borders are partially closed and this is in line with the ECOWAS protocol which mandated travellers to obtain a travel document and take the legal route to enter into a country.
He further explained that that the borders were closed for the good of the country contrary to some claims that it was targeted on the neighbouring countries.
According to the Immigration boss, the Visa-on-arrival policy was not a different law contradicting the border closure.
In his submission, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali while briefing journalist revealed: “All goods, for now, are banned from being exported or imported through our land borders to ensure that we have total control over what comes in.”