NIGERIAN BORDER CLOSURE

 The Problem From Beyond The Border Or Within The Border? Nigerian Border Closure

The closure of Nigeria's borders to its neighboring countries is not a new topic, as the action has been in play since the past 5 months. The act has drawn opinions from every Nigerian either directly affected or indirectly affected. The border which has been closed since August 20th, 2019 with the purpose of curbing the large smuggling of rice, illegal weaponry and other commodities, updates by Bloomberg.com reports that President Muhammadu had extended the border closure to January 31st, 2020.
Though there have been many implications of the closure of the land borders in Nigeria, one thing that has slipped the minds of many is whether the problem is from beyond the borders of Nigeria or within it and if closing the border is the answer.
Everyone is more concerned with other issues that justify whether the act of closing the border is right or wrong, but little emphasis had been laid on whether the problem or issues that closing the border Is seeking to eradicate is coming from beyond the border or within. Automatically a party that sees through the eyes of the government would say the problem is from beyond the border but an opposing party which could be local traders would stare that the problem is the government within the border who want to strip them of their means of livelihood. The truth is that the problem lies on both sides, but the greater problem comes from within the border where the citizens reside.
Criminals can smuggle all sorts of illegal commodities in large quantities pass the border because they have fellow accomplices from within the border that will aid their safe passage by supplying them with information or offer physical support in form of transportation. Who else would know where a lag is in national security asides from those who live within the nation? Nigerians within the border are the buyers and sellers of these illegally smuggled commodities, if the country's citizens do not all share the same mindset of economic development as the government it would result in a reverse effect in economy. The government wants to stop illegal smuggling of commodities and aid locally produced goods but the citizens still accept the illegally smuggled goods and sell them rather repel the negative effort by reporting such accomplices or refusing to buy them or by engaging in legal business (no legal business would want to tarnish it's image by having illegal relations). The selfish attitude of Nigerians across the country defeats such a purpose of economic independence, and this is not something that closing the border can solve.
Nigeria's serious security deficiency isn't news to its citizens neither is it to the outside world, these criminals who smuggle into our country don't see our security at any point as a threat to their menacing cause. Would they be threatened by a security that is undermanned, a security that can't defend against vices like the Islamic terrorists know as Boko Haram, or the Fulani Herdsman or would the criminals be scared of a security personnel that can be easily bribed, or by a law enforcement agent that harrases Nigerian youths for bribes under the umbrella of curbing internet fraud? No they most certainly would not, they know that a porous security system only opens doors for them to sell their illegal weaponry and ammunition to the criminals within the country that would use it to carry more atrocities within the country, this is a problem that closing the border can't fix. Citing a report from Punch newspaper(2019) of Senator Francis Fadahunsi who shared his observation about the smuggling of illegal weaponry into Nigeria due illegal vendors taking advantage of the lax, undermanned and sprawling security at the border.
Another problem that defeats the purpose of the border closure us the mindset of the people. The people have the mindset that nothing good can come from Nigeria and if it does it won't survive. Many Nigerians do not buy the idea of buying made in Nigeria products as they are seen as either unauthentic or unreliable by the people. There's no way they wouldnt aid the smuggling of foreign products illegally into the country. There have been remarkable innovations by Nigerians that has been exposed on the social media none of these people have the funding to make such innovations sell on a global scale. An individual invented a bicycle that moves on water this would be a revolution in Riverton areas, but when the government ignores such innovations how would it get enough awareness, how would the people be interested, how would people know it's authentic? Rather than being sorry they settle for products from neighbouring countries and are willing to get them by all means even if it is illegal.
Government isn't doing well either to make development of local products a unanimous effort, the awareness level of it is low and the call to action or support of the citizens isn't done sufficiently by the government. Endorsed celebrities to create awareness of locally made produce is a good start,  Globacom successfully used this strategy to create awareness of its brand. Celebrities Or other opinion leaders can influence the people's interest in locally made products thereby creating support for it. Popular artist wizkid was part of the brains behind the Nigerian Jersey used by the Super Eagles in the 2019 FIFA World Cup. This jersey was credited to Nigeria thereby making it Nigeria's household brand, though distributed worldwide by Nike it's origin can be redirected to us.
There is a scale with tow weights on it, one is Nigeria's economy, standard of living, Identity and citizens. While the other weight are foreigners and their businesses and other things they have to offer. With the state Nigeria is in we need these foreigners to serve as a benchmark to produce our local commodities, we need their expertise, laws and policies as well as their technology to improve our local commodities' production on a large scale. We can't totally block or remove on weight it won't ride but would rather being us down, we need to exploit the other weight fairly and wisely so as to increase the weight of its positive impact on us and when the weight is higher on one saved the other rises and so will Nigeria if we open our borders.
Nigeria needs a nationwide mass orientation and it's the job of the mass media to serve as a propelar for this cause. Framing news in a way that objectively creates unanimous mindset aimed nationwide development.

                                                               BY  BABALOLA JOSEPH..