The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s border closure policy, declaring it a self-deceptive strategy that fails to address the persistent issues of cross-border banditry and economic sabotage. This assertion was made during the 2025 budget defense session with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (PDP, Osun East), led the charge, describing the policy as both counterproductive and unsustainable. According to Fadaunsi, the so-called “technical border closure” has proven ineffective in curbing smuggling or enhancing national security, particularly in states bordering Niger and the Republic of Chad, which have become hotbeds for cross-border banditry.
“Keeping the borders technically closed while they remain practically porous is not only futile but also detrimental to the country’s economy,” Senator Fadaunsi remarked. He pointed out that the exit of Niger and Chad from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), coupled with their open borders to Nigerians, has exacerbated insecurity and worsened Nigeria’s economic struggles.
Highlighting the economic impact, Fadaunsi cited rice production as a glaring example of the policy’s failure. He revealed that Nigeria has a rice consumption rate of 7 million tons annually, yet local production only accounts for 3 million tons. The remaining 4 million tons, he lamented, are smuggled into the country through the very borders that are supposedly closed.
“Rather than curb smuggling, the border closure has incentivized it. Smugglers now find creative ways to bypass the restrictions, undermining local producers and draining the economy,” Fadaunsi added.
The senator further emphasized that the policy, instead of fostering economic growth and security, has created a ripple effect of challenges, from worsening food inflation to heightened insecurity in border states. He called for a pragmatic reassessment of the border closure policy, urging the government to adopt more practical and sustainable measures that strike a balance between national security and economic viability.
The joint committee’s lamentation underscores a growing consensus among policymakers that Nigeria’s border closure experiment may have done more harm than good. As the 2025 budget deliberations continue, stakeholders are expected to push for more strategic solutions to tackle the complex interplay of insecurity, smuggling, and economic challenges plaguing the nation.
In the face of mounting criticism, the government will need to decide whether to continue doubling down on the current policy or pivot towards more innovative approaches that deliver tangible results for Nigerians.
PIONEER NEWS 