2,000 trucks exit as Kebbi borders reopen with Benin, Niger Republics

No fewer than 2,000 trucks that were earlier stranded at Nigeria’s borders with Benin and the Niger Republic have begun moving following the reopening of the Kamba and Tsamiya border posts in Kebbi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the reopening is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive.

The Kebbi Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mahmoud Matawalle-Ibrahim, officially opened the borders to trucks from Benin and Niger on Monday at Kamba, in the Dandi Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “The reopening of the borders in Dandi and Bagudo Local Government Areas is aimed at facilitating the transit of legitimate goods and reviving cross-border trade with the Republics of Benin and Niger, after months of closure occasioned by security concerns.

“The exercise was carried out with presidential approval to enable the smooth movement of legitimate goods from the Tsamiya border to the Niger Republic through the Kamba corridor in Kebbi.”

Matawalle-Ibrahim averred that many of the stranded trucks from Benin had already been cleared at Tsamiya and were moving towards Niger Republic’s Tunga Jado border through Kamba.

He added that the development would boost trading activities between Nigeria and its neighbours, while also strengthening joint security efforts along the border communities.

Earlier, an official of the Niger Republic, Commander Maigiro Yahaya-Tubil, said the decision by the Nigerian Government would help stimulate the economies of the neighbouring countries.

“We are happy that our trucks, which were trapped for months, can now move freely through Nigeria to their destinations,” he said.

Also speaking, the District Head of Kamba, Alhaji Muhammed Sarkin-Shikon-Kamba, described the reopening as a major relief to border communities.

“This decision will bring economic benefits to our people and restore livelihoods that were affected by the closure.

“We sincerely appreciate the Federal Government,” he said.

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