Border closure: Falana tells FG to stop harassing poor Nigerians

Human right lawyer, Femi Falana has said that the unannounced closure of the Seme Border by Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is harassment of poor Nigerians in the name of fighting corruption.

Falana said the rich among Nigerians already know how to sort themselves out while the poor ones are struggling with hardship

He insisted that the Federal Government was infringing on the rights of Nigerians by the unannounced closure of the Seme border on Tuesday, August 20, by officials is a harassment of poor traders.

The senior lawyer who spoke at the 13th Anti-Corruption Situation Room organised by the Human Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) claimed that while the rich Nigerians already knew how to sort themselves out, the poor are struggling with the hardship.

The government must stop harassing the poor because the rich already know how to take care of themselves.

“Accepted that the government was trying to fight corruption but in fighting smugglers, the government shouldn’t fight the poor,” Falana added.

He also urged that the fight against corruption in Nigeria be taken to states and local government area with the aim of developing sanctions against impunity.

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service had said that the Seme Border will remain closed for the next 28-days. The service however said that those doing legitimate business within the border have nothing to fear as the FG approved Joint Military operation is ongoing in the area.