By Musa Ubandawaki (Sokoto State Correspondent)
The people of Ilala town in Sokoto state North-Western Nigeria, have been jubilating as the Border linking the area with Niger republic was reopened by the Nigerian Customs, Sokoto/Zamfara Command.
Speaking during a short ceremony before the official opening of the border post, the Controller of Customs in charge of the Sokoto command, CAC Abdulmajeed Ma'aji, said though the border was opened, the ban on rice importation and other contraband items is still in force.
He said the Nigerian Customs Service is making effort to ensure a good atmosphere of trade between people of ECOWAS countries along the approved Nigerian land borders.
The Nigeria /Niger Republic Illela Border Post in Sokoto State, it will be recalled, was closed down sometimes ago, last year, on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigerian Newsleader correspondent in Sokoto who was at the Nigeria/ Niger Republic border post at Illela, reports that residents from both countries were seen celebrating the reopening of the border in anticipation of improved economic and social activities.
The Zonal Area Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Mr Abdulhamid Ma'aji, stated that the decision to reopen the border post was to comply with the directives of President Buhari on the reopening of the border post with immediate effect.
He reminded travellers through the border that the ban on importation of rice and other essential commodities is still in force, as such, they should make sure they abide by the rules of the federal government.
The CAC further advised resident communities, travellers and traders using the border to abide strictly with the rules and regulations guiding their trips and businesses. He charged travellers along ECOWAS countries to desist from the habits of importing and exporting goods items such as rice, medicament and cooking oil, among others.
He, however, appealed to the border communities to support the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with relevant and intelligent information that would assist the officers and men of the command to manage the border post effectively. In his remarks, the Command Officer in charge of ICT, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, DSC Shattima Babagana, advised traders transacting business to acquires valid importation documents that would enable them to discharge their businesses legitimately.
He charges the traders and prospective traders, especially those willing to start trading along the ECOWAS countries to contact the Nigerian Customs Service Command for further guidance to achieve the desired goals. NNL
