One week after the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service following the directive of the Presidency to reopen the Illela land border between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, the government of the Niger Republic opened its border in Konni for operations on Friday afternoon.
A source, Nuhu Samaila, who briefed our correspondent from Konni, in the Niger Republic, said the border was declared open at exactly 12pm on Friday.
He commended the decision of the leadership of the country, the military junta, to give a listening ear to the yearnings of the people by ensuring the border is open.
“It is a commendable effort, at least by the government, to have done the needful at last. It has been our collective prayer that this border too should be reopened after the Nigerian side was declared open.
“I want to believe that this will definitely help a lot in the improvement of the economies of these two countries, as it will facilitate more trading activities between Nigeria and the Niger Republic ” he added.
Recall that, customs in Nigeria, complying with federal government directives, have reopened all land and air borders across the northern states and country, with the most recent being the reopening of konni-illela border in Sokoto State to facilitate lawful trade between the two countries.