People from the Nigerian town of Malam Fatori an its area, close to the borders with Niger and Chad, pass by a car with Chadian Gendarmes (in uniform) as they flee Islamist Boko Haram attacks to take shelter in the Niger's town of Bosso secure by Niger and Chad armies, on May 25, 2015. Boko Haram, which wants to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, has been pushed out of captured towns and territory since February by Nigerian troops with assistance from Niger, Chad and Cameroon. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
The Nigerian Customs Service has on Tuesday officially open Illela border for the porpose of the citizens for import and export business activities.
The controller of customs covering Sokoto and Zamfara States, CAC Abdulhamid Ma’aji, stated this in Illeila while holding meeting with residents communities both from Illeila in Nigeria and representative of Kwanni in Niger Republic as well as relevant stakeholders.
Ma’aji while assuring the people of the community the total cooperation of his men, said the with the opening of the border, economic activities will return to Illeila and it’s environment.
He called on residents of the area to give maximum support to Nigerian Customs and other security agencies so as to help them in discharging their responsibilities.
“Now that this border is open for operation, let me appeal to every residents of both Illeila and Kwanni for their cooperation.
“I want to assure everyone that the Nigerian Customs and it’s sister agencies are ready to be professional in discharging their duties.
“Let me use this opportunity to tell you that all items that are tagged as contraband still remain banned.
“Medicaments and tomapast are banned through the land borders, except through the seaports” he added.
The Chairman of Traders association in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, in his remarks commended the government for the reopening of the land borders in the state.
He reassured that traders in the state will continue to collaborate with the security agencies while avoiding bringing in goods that are not allowed into the country.
He said with the reopening of the border, residents of the communities who have being out of job will benefits, while governments at all levels will benefits from improve revenue of the country.
Also speaking, the technical supervisor of the customs in charge of ICT in the command, DSC Babagana Shettima, assured that the command will collaborate with both the Customs agent and the traders in making things work amicably.
He urged all the businessmen in the state to always make use of the opportunity provided through the ICT to obtained relevant papers relating to their export or imported goods.
