President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has said by closing the land border, he gave Nigerians the option of either eating what the country grows or die.
He said Nigeria has the potential to produce its food, but citizens prefer importing rice from other countries for consumption.
Speaking further, Buhari said he deliberately shut down the borders, considering Lake Chad to the Benin Republic is more than 1,600 kilometres and only God can effectively safeguard the borders.
Buhari made this known recently while inaugurating the new N19.6 billion customs headquarters in Abuja.
He said: “Please note that from Lake Chad to Benin Republic is more than 1,600 kilometres, only God can effectively guard the borders.
“So you need a person who has the energy and the competence to supervise. I deliberately closed the borders because knowing Nigerians, they order rice, give some to Niger and the rest, and then they bring the rice here.
“With our potential, we have people, we have land, and weather – how many nations are as lucky as Nigeria in the world, very few nations.
“So closing that border, 1,600 kilometres, Nigerians insist they eat boiled rice – you eat what you grow or you die. I tried to make my point and later Nigerians appreciated it.”
SUPPORT NIGERIAN CANADIAN NEWSPAPER CANADA
If you like our work and want to keep enjoying what we offer, kindly support us by donating to the Nigerian Canadian News by clicking here
Share your thoughts in the comments section below
Do you want to share any news or information with us? If yes, contact the publisher at publisher@nigeriancanadiannews.ca
