Border Closure’ll Protect Our Productive Industry –Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano , Muhammad Sanusi , has thrown his weight behind the land borders closure policy of the Federal Government , saying it will protect Nigeria ’s productive industry from destruction .

He described the decision as part of measures to preserve the nation ’s foreign policy and economic interest .

Sanusi stated this at the public presentation of the maiden foreign policy journal by the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday .

He explained that the decision was meant to stop neighbouring countries from violating the ECOWAS protocol , noting that Nigeria was fast becoming a dumping ground .

The Emir said, “ If we have an industrial policy that is aimed at protecting the productive sector of Nigeria against unfair competition , we cannot allow our neighbours to open their door to this unfair competition and through the backdoor undermine our industry , this is extremely important . ”

The border closure , he stressed , would not only address the problem of smuggling of petroleum products and rice but also prevent a situation where Nigeria was turned into a dumpsite for dangerous drugs .

The Publicity Secretary , ARCAN Editorial Board, Ambassador Grant Ehiobuche , said the ARCAN Foreign Policy Journal was the first of its kind in the annals of Nigeria ’s foreign policy .

He described the journal as ” a compendium of rich scholarly and highly researched articles that tell the story of Nigeria ’s foreign service from cradle before independence through the early stages of independent Nigeria , the First Republic , on to the Second Republic and until the current dispensation of President Muhammadu Buhari era. ”

According to him, the publication provides enriching knowledge on the evolution and operations of the Nigerian Foreign Service .

He added, “ Richly served and burnished with great accuracy in rendition , the articles truly reflect the events that charted the path for what is today a vibrant foreign policy that positions Nigeria as a leader on our continent .”

Copyright PUNCH .