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Nigeria has shut its land and sea borders in preparation for its general election set to begin on Saturday.

The decision was announced by the Interior Ministry. The international border closure will take effect from this midnight March 25, to midnight Saturday, March 28. The move was made to ensure the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming national polls.

The presidential and parliamentary polls are expected to be the most tightly contested since military rule ended in 1999. The borders were also closed to prevent non-Nigerians from participating in the electoral process.