In a bid to ensure a secure and peaceful election season, the Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered the closure of all land borders for a period of 24 hours on the day of the election.
As stated by the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Tony Akuneme, this order from the NIS Comptroller-General Isah Jere is meant to be strictly enforced by Command Controllers, especially in the border states, from 12am on Saturday, February 25, to 12am on Sunday.
This closure of land borders is meant to prevent any illegal activity that could potentially disrupt the voting process and compromise the security of Nigerians. It is a necessary precaution, as the integrity and fairness of the election are of utmost importance.
The order has been met with mixed reactions from Nigerians, as some agree that this is a necessary measure for the security of the nation, while others feel that it is a hindrance to the free movement of people and goods. However, the Federal Government has made it clear that the safety and security of its citizens come first.
The Federal Government has also put a number of other measures into place to ensure the safety of the election, including the deployment of security personnel to polling units and the establishment of special protection units to prevent any illegal activity or electoral malpractice.