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  • News - Economy
  • Updated: January 19, 2020

Buhari On Border closure: Nigerian Farmers Are Celebrating

Buhari On Border closure: Nigerian Farmers Are Celebrating

The president says that his decision to shut the border is not a way of punishing neighboring countries. When the border saw a partial closure in August of last year, the federal government had said that it was a way to control the movement of illegal goods entering the country.

Former president of Ghana, John Mahama had described the closing of the border as an impediment on economic activities, with the small and medium businesses feeling the bulk of the brunt, with other smaller countries like Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire that depend on the goods traded with Nigeria also suffering from the closure.

On Saturday in London, Buhari met with a small team of Nigerians, expressing his reasons for the closure of the border: to strengthen Nigeria's economy and security.

The presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, interacted with the audience, also releasing a statement on the president's goal in the closing of the country's borders.

READ ALSO: Anthony Joshua Presents Heavyweight Titles To Buhari in UK

“He noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure which has drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition,” the statement read. 

“President Buhari attributed the country’s virtual food security position to the ‘very good last three rainy seasons;’ the federal government’s reduction in the price of fertilisers by 50 per cent and the presidential directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to give foreign exchange for food imports thereby saving the nations billions of naira.

“Commending Nigerians in the Diaspora for their huge home remittances – more than $25 billion in 2018 – the President also lauded their individual performances in their various fields of expertise.

“Explaining the achievements of his administration in implementing its three-point campaign agenda by focusing on fixing the economy, providing security and tackling corruption, the President said Nigeria’s ‘huge, vibrant youth population’ have been encouraged to go back to the farms and are “living decent and respectable lifestyles.”

“On security, he said ‘it is common sense that you can only run the country if it is secured,’ adding that the country ‘has not done badly in the northeast.’”

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