Kehinde Fajobi
The National Assembly’s joint committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment has criticised Nigeria’s border closure policy, describing it as ineffective in addressing smuggling and insecurity.
At the 2025 budget defence session with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, lawmakers highlighted ongoing security and economic challenges linked to the country’s porous borders with Niger and Chad.
Senator Francis Fadaunsi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, argued that the border closure is counterproductive.
He stated, “Border closure is hampering the economic fortunes of the country because rather than curb smuggling, it encourages it.
“For instance, with rice production, local producers only manage to meet 3 million tonnes of the 7 million tonnes required, leaving a significant shortfall filled by smuggled goods.”
Hon. Fatima Talba, representing Nangero/Potiskum Federal Constituency in Yobe State, echoed similar sentiments.
“Going by the free movement of people and even criminals across the borders, it is time for us to stop fooling ourselves with border closure,” she said.
Hon. Paul Kalejaiye of Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos State, questioned the policy’s selective enforcement, asking whether it applied uniformly across all borders.
In response, the joint committee, chaired by Senator Suleiman Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North), urged the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, to engage with the Presidency for a comprehensive review of the border closure policy.
During her budget presentation, Dr Oduwole outlined the ministry’s 2025 allocations, including ₦3.8 billion for capital expenditure, ₦4.65 billion for personnel costs, and ₦1.45 billion for overhead, with a projected revenue of ₦24 billion.
However, lawmakers flagged discrepancies in the ministry’s documents, including a project initially budgeted at ₦50 million but later awarded for ₦59 million, reflecting an unexplained extra ₦9 million.
Dr Oduwole and her team attributed the discrepancy to a “typographical error.”
The committee instructed the minister to rectify the error before the budget could be approved.