The Border Drill Operation Sector 3 has urged the media to back the Federal Government and enlighten the public on how the border closure is the best decision for them and the country.
Compt. Garba Mohammed, the Acting Coordinator of the Sector 3 revealed this today as he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.
According to him, Television, radio, newspaper publications, internet posts and social media can play a major role in sensitizing and educating Nigerians on how the border closure will eventually benefit them.
He added that as soon as industries are set up for local goods, the citizens will become employed and this will improve our economy.
His words, “The media has more work to do. They can sensitise members of the public through television, radio, newspaper publications, internet posts and social media.
“When you educate the people, sensitise and mobilise them, the public will be able to cooperate with security agencies to make sure we develop the country and our economy,”
“We appeal to the state governments to assist us in the sensitisation programme as well as radio, television stations and all other media outfits.
“We want the state governments to sensitise and sell the idea to the people, which they agreed, as they have seen the importance of the border closure on the state.”
“They went to the border communities and sensitise the people. Also recently, the same federal government sent a team from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustafa, for the same purpose.”
“During our visits to some border communities, we discovered that many of the smugglers and members of the areas are ignorant of the act of importing foreign rice into Nigeria.
“Some of them were not aware that government has ordered for partial closure of border, while others do not know that there are other legitimate business to provide for their livelihood,”
“If you are producing local goods and wants to export the goods, government through Customs can give you certain policies for the produced goods.
“The only payment is 0.5 per cent for administrative charges and it is given to an agency that will clear the goods.”
“The third agreement signed was of recent; with the African Continental Trade movement, towards trade facilitation.
“The essence of the agreement signed is for industrialisation; in the sense that locally made goods are free for exportation.
“By the time industries are set up for local goods, people will be gainfully employed and will be able to have a means of livelihood and also contribute significantly to the economy of the nation.”
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