The federal government makes between N5billion and N8 billion daily from the current closure of Nigeria’s land borders, the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.
The money is being realised by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) through its anti-smuggling campaign, codenamed “Exercise Swift Response.”
In the same manner, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the federal government was yet to fix a date for the reopening of the borders.
Mohammed further said that during the period under review, the country had recorded over 30 per cent increase in revenue since the NCS’ drill was introduced and drastically curtailed the inflow of arms and ammunition.
The minister stated this yesterday at North-West Sector Four Zone, Magama Jibia in Katsina State when he addressed stakeholders in the community in the federal government’s initiatives.
He said that bandits and terrorists were now finding it hard to procure arms and ammunition.
Mohammed maintained that the country had also recorded a reduction in cases of cattle rustling, kidnapping, armed banditry which were predominant in the North-West region, adding that “these nefarious acts have been significantly reduced.”
The minister said that the arms and ammunition being used by violent extremists and criminal elements no longer make their way into the country through the land borders.
He said this will also have a negative effect on the insurgency.
According to him, ‘’the main reason for embarking on the drill is to protect our country against transnational security concerns such as smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons; irregular migration as well as terrorism and armed banditry, among a host of other concerns.
‘’This exercise is not targeted at any region in the country, neither is it designed to cripple businesses in any part of the country, as some conspiracy theorists have been insinuating. As a matter of fact, since the exercise commenced over three months ago, local businesses across the country have continued to thrive, as farmers and rice millers, in particular, are now having turnover on investments,’’ he said.
On the closure of filling station close in border communities, the minister said the drill had also curtailed smuggling of petroleum products out of Nigeria.
He said that the closure of filling stations along the border was a huge success.
‘’There are hundreds of filling stations along the borders. We counted many as we drove to the border this morning. They were set up purposely for smuggling. They do not sell the fuel consignment they receive to the public.
“Fifty per cent of them are owned by foreigners. Now that they are closed, we have recorded over 30 per cent drop in domestic fuel consumption.‘‘
He added that the north-west sector of the four sectors affected by the NCS drill, has recorded the highest success in terms of reduction of irregular migration.
“Nigeria will continue to engage with the neighbouring countries to ensure that all the concerns that led to “Exercise Swift Response” are fully addressed we call on all key stakeholders, including the media, to ensure that the desired objectives of this drill, that is, to advance a secured, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, are fully accomplished,’‘ he added.
Mohammed was accompanied by the minister for state for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum and the minister for state for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba.
Some of the community’s stakeholders present during the inspection were the district head of Dadara, Usman Usman and the district head of Jibia, Rabe Rabiu.