FG To Close Land Borders With Neighbour Over Rice Smuggling

Minister Of Agric Discloses Plan By A Neighbour Country To Kill Rice Production In Nigeria

Following a detected alleged attempt to spoil rice production in Nigeria, the federal government has decided to shut down the land border between Nigeria and a neigbour country in a few days.

Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday while speaking with youth in a leadership clinic under the auspices of Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI).

Though he did not mention the particular country and border,  Ogbe said shutting the borders had become necessary to encourage local production and sustain the economy of the country.

Nigeria shares borders with Niger, Chad, Benin and Cameroon.

In the Minister’s address he noted that a neighbour country was bent on destroying the economy of the country and discouraging local production of rice, hence the need to shut down the border.

He disclosed that the neighbour country, do not eat parboiled rice, but is presently importing Rice than China.

“They do not eat parboiled rice, they eat white rice, they use their ports to try and damage our economy.

“I am telling you now because in a few days, you will hear the border has been shut, we are going to shut it to protect you, us and protect our economy.

“You will start seeing all sorts of negative things on the internet.

Speaking on the reason for the decision to shut borders, Ogbeh said;

“I grow rice, I was the first Nigerian to mill rice free of stones, if you plant rice in certain parcels of land, some poisonous materials gets into the rice. He said. 

“There are three kinds of water in their natural state; there is fresh water from the river, salt water from the sea, blackish water.

“If you go to the Delta in many countries, in South East Asia where they grow the rice, if you plant rice in the same place like four to six years continuously, the quantum of arsenic begins to increase and arsenic causes cancer and that is what they are dumping for us.

“Some people say they prefer Thai rice because they are very sophisticated, welcome to poison,’’ Mr Ogbeh said.

He said that the Federal Government in two years reduced rice importation by 95 per cent and increased the number of rice farmers from five million to 30 million.

The minister said that states like Anambra, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa were doing well in rice production.

“We just have to handwork you to prosperity otherwise, this country will not grow. My wish for you is to have a better time that we had,’’ Mr Ogbeh said.

Also speaking, the president of GOTNI, Linus Okoriein, in his remark, commended the minister for sharing prosperity experiences with the youth while explaining that the GOTNI was organized by leadership team to expose people to practical leadership.

In his words, “GOTNI is committed to changing the narratives of poor leadership in Nigeria by consciously developing the capacities of generational leaders.

“A lot of young people are asking questions, seeking answers to their questions, wish that they have an experienced person who will hold them by the hands and show them the way to achieve success.

He noted that if Nigeria must make progress, it.. must expose these young people to experienced leaders that have gone ahead for a conscious transfer of knowledge and experiences,’’ he said.

Some of the youth who spoke at the meeting called for continuous mentorship from leaders, access to finance and low interest rates to assist them in businesses

GOTNI is a non-profit youth leadership capital development organisation with a passion to nurture various categories of young people under 40 years of age, into transformational leaders.