Buhari Extends Border Closure Till January 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the closure of Nigeria’s border with neighbouring countries to January 31, next year.

The exercise code-named operation Exercise Swift Response had resulted in joint border operations by a combined team of security agencies.

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspectorate, Victor Dimka, conveyed the Presidential directive in a memo to the Sector Coordinators.

The memo with reference number NCS/ENF/ABJ/221/S.45, and marked “Restricted” was dated November 1, 2019.

The memo which was obtained by Newsmen on Sunday said that despite the overwhelming success of the operation, particularly the security and economic benefits to the nation, a few strategic objectives are yet to be achieved.

It said the need to achieve the strategic objectives of the exercise informed the extension of this phase by the President.

It assured operatives that are involved in the joint operations that their allowances would be paid.

Nigeria had closed all land borders with neighbouring countries in October, following an earlier closure of its borders with its western neighbour, the Republic of Benin in August.