OGUN WEST CONSULTATIVE FORUM LAMENTS OVER BORDER CLOSURE
The forum boss also added that the closure of border has affected the circulation of petroleum products which the machinery on the farm depends on, stressing that the transportation of the products principally to the Chinese Industries in Igbesa has become herculean task due to bad road conditions, which is characteristics of the border areas in Ogun State.
“To the regular sufferings from infrastructural deprivation and political marginalisation, the people of the aforementioned local authorities and communities in border areas of Ogun State now have to stand a wide range of human rights abuses.
“Rights of Free Movement of persons and goods, evidently and probably originating from the Nigeria and immediate Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) region, not re-exportations, in strict adherence to ECOWAS protocols of Free Movement of Persons and Goods
‘The border closure enforcement has been made to adversely affect movement of locally produced fresh fruit tomatoes, corn, yams and Lafun (cassava flour) and Cocoa from border area on the Nigerian side of the border to Yoruba traditional periodic markets in Abeokuta and Lagos, even in Obada, Oja-Odan and Owode-Idiroko in Imeko/Afon, Yewa North and Ipokia LGAs respectively. This has led to huge losses to local farmers, traders and transporters’.
“The aforementioned recent extension of the scope of the border closure is the ban on circulation of petrol and petroleum products within 20 kilometres of the border. This would lead to further losses for legitimate economic activities, such as iron welding, saw milling, hair dressers who depend on generators and therefore fuel for their operations”
Penpushing also reports that, Asiwaju, countered implications of the border closure on free movement within their community, saying “contrary to the clear provision in the Nigeria constitution for Right to Freedom of movement and from Discrimination, border closure is a blatant discrimination against law-abiding Nigerians whose home base and residence are located in the affected localities. It renders such areas needless vulnerable and deprived. It cannot be that living in a border area is a crime’.
“Also, the implications for this border closure is for the upcoming convocation ceremony of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), how are we going to get petroleum for their usage, whereas, we are having thousands of people coming from Ghana, Benin, Togo and other places, how are we going to manage them?” He asked.
Penpushing further reports the forum appealed to the Federal Government, to develop the border communities, give them tertiary institutions of learning, good medical services, good road networks, stable power supply, gas pipeline and modern way of farming location of industries.
