FG To Shut Land Border To Curb Rice Smuggling

The federal government says it will shut down the land border between Nigeria and neighbouring countries in a few days time to avoid smuggling of foreign rice into the country.

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

Ogbeh who did not mention the particular country and border said that shutting the borders had become necessary to encourage local production and sustain the economy of the country.

The minister said that a neighbouring country was bent on destroying the economy of the country and discouraging local production of rice, hence the need to shut down the border.

“Our other problem is smuggling. As we speak, a neighbour of ours is importing more rice than China is importing.

“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 few days, you will hear the border has been shut, we are going to shut it to protect you, us and protect our economy,’’ Ogbeh said.