

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said Nigeria is not at war with Niger Republic and that the border closure being implemented is in line with directive from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Mr Adeniyi, who visited Illela border community in Sokoto State on Friday to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive to suspend trading activities with Niger following an unconstitutional overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum expressed delight at the cooperation given by the community to the closure.
Adeniyi said βMy mission here is to restate the directives of President Bola Tinubu, being not only the Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
βAs we are aware one of the Chairmanβs responsibility is to promote trade between members of ECOWAS.
βBut we all know that trade cannot happen in an environment where there is no peace.
βSo the intention of government is to ensure that we leverage perfectly on the nexus between trade and security,β he said.
βThis development initiated the ECOWAS Heads of States decision to cease trade with our neighbours, the Republic of Niger.
βHowever, there are other measures that are ongoing, the diplomatic front, there are engagement going on with the authority of Niger to ensure the crisis is peacefully resolved,β he added.
Adeniyi further stated that the action is not only restricted to Illela border but all other areas where the Niger Republic is bordering the country.
βSo what we are saying is that the closure will be a temporary thing until we have final resolution of the crisis in Niger Republic.
βBut certainly we are not at war with Niger Republic and no such declaration has been made,β he said.