By Iliya Kure
Nigerian Government has ordered the re-opening of its borders closed due to the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier scheduled for Saturday.
But hours to the elections, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu announced a postponement, attributing it to logistic and operational problems, saying the new dates will afford the commission the opportunity to address the identified challenges.
Presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on 23rd February, while the governorship and state assembly elections will hold on 9th March.
A statement by Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, in Abuja on Saturday, said that Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), had ordered the re-opening of the borders.
Directive to close the borders from midnight on Friday to Sunday, was given by the minister on Thursday.
Directing re-opening of the borders, he said that Immigration officers would continue “their normal border control and patrol duties to ensure that all persons crossing Nigeria’s land, air and sea borders travelled with valid and genuine documents,” it says.