President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed the reason behind the partial closure of Nigerian - Benin Republic border to quantum smuggling especially the foreign rice.
Buhari made the disclosure at the International Conference for African Development (TCAD7), which is ongoing at Yokohama, Japan while granting audience to Patrice Talon, a Beninois counterpart.
The President who is worried about the level of smuggling his government has been battling within its effort to boost self-sufficiency in domestic food production through his numerous Agricultural policies.
According to Mr. Buhari, most Nigerian rural dwellers have gone back to farm; this has made the country save a huge amount of money that would have been wasted in the importation of food products. Hence, the government is determined to fight smuggling to a standstill to boost both foreign reserve and food production.
In his statement, the partial closure of border will give our security outfits an ample of time to strategize on how to face the menace head-on so that the tide does not continue to bother us as a nation.
Talon, while responding to the concerns pointed out by Mr. President on the magnitude of suffering caused by the closure to his people, Buhari said he had taken note and would consider reopening it soon.
Earlier, President Talon had said he solicits on the Nigerian President to consider that his people are feeling the pain of the said border while it remains closed.
