The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has established a committee to study and make a full report on the closure of Nigerian land borders.

Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, who disclosed this yesterday, said the decision was reached Sunday at an extraordinary meeting of the heads of government of West African nations on the sidelines of the 33rd AU summit in Ethiopia.

The committee, headed by President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso, would examine all the countries affected by the closed boundaries and summit its report to the body for further decisions.

“The President of Burkina Faso is charged with undertaking a full study of the situation, make a report and then we take it from there”

"No timeline is given for the submission of the report, the statement cited Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama as saying.

Recall, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the partial closure of the country’s boundary with Benin to curb smuggling of rice, a staple in August last year.

In October, his administration further restricted the trade of all goods across the land borders to curb smuggling from Benin and Niger into the country.

Meanwhile, the presidential aide disclosed that the meeting also discussed West Africa′s new single currency, the Eco, and the situation in Guinea Bissau after the presidential election.

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On the Eco currency, the Foreign Minister said:‘‘Nothing has changed in respect of Nigeria’s position’’.

He added that Nigeria’s position was that the convergence criteria had not been met by majority of the countries, therefore there has to be an extension of time on the take-off of the single currency.

On Guinea Bissau, the Minister said ECOWAS leaders recognized that there was an appeal of the presidential election result and ”they are waiting for the Supreme Court decision on the matter”.