Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Minister of Interior, Mr . Rauf Aregbesola , has said that despite the reopening of borders, the importation of rice and other items remain banned .
He said with the deployment of technology in some of Nigeria ’ s borders, no one would enter the country with a hidden identity.
Aregbesola , who spoke with newsmen in Ilesa on Saturday , explained that the need for proper documentation of movement in and out of the country led to the deployment of technology at the borders.
He said , “ We have deployed technology which is called MINDARS – Migration Information Data Analysis System in the four borders we reopened.
“ MINDARS will register whoever passes , either a Nigerian or non – Nigerian across our borders and once you have registered , it is for life. It will take biometric , photographs, names, and other details in a central database. Nobody can now be anonymous through our border posts . ”
He said added that the reopening was for movement of people, goods , and services originating from the region of West Africa for trading purposes .
“ Items that we banned are foreign items . Parboiled rice is only eaten in Nigeria in the entire West of Africa . The border reopening does not in any way affect the banned items. Like poultry , rice and other contraband such as psychotropic drugs, arms and ammunition, money laundering and others they are criminal , ” Aregbesola said .
The ex -Osun state governor , when asked about the recent meeting he had with his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola , ex -governor of Lagos State , Bola Tinubu, at the residence of Chief Bisi Akande in Ila , Aregbesola denied having any rift with Oyetola .
He said the meeting was not to settle any rift , noting that his being away from the state was to allow the new governor to settle down in office .
“ I have clarified this to the world , I don’ t have any rift with anybody . I ’ ve been away from here for a while simply to allow the new governor to settle down.
“ With what I see, our party remains strong and my having to be more here is to strengthen the party through healthy mobilisation. My party is my party, ” he said .
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