Despite harsh criticism at the time, Buhari said Nigerians eventually came to appreciate the action.
In order to boost food production in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has claimed that he purposefully closed the nation’s borders.
Buhari said that although the action received harsh criticism at the time, Nigerians eventually embraced it.
At the new Customs Headquarters’ Tuesday opening in Abuja, he made this statement.
He added at the occasion, “I purposefully closed the borders because knowing Nigerians, they order rice, give some Niger address, and then they bring the rice here.”
We praise God for Nigeria’s favor because of the possibilities of our country. Weather, land, and people are all present. In the whole globe, how many countries are as fortunate as Nigeria? As blessed as we are, very few countries are! For that, we give God thanks.
He said, “So, shutting that border – 1,600 km from Lake Chad to Benin – and Nigerians think they have to impress their neighbors and other people and they consume foreign rice. “No rice,” I said.
“Either you eat what you cultivate, or you perish. Making my point was my attempt. As additional employment were created later, Nigerians appreciated it, said Buhari.
“People returned to the lands—which are still there—and produced the food that we consume. Those who produce too much rice should either consume it themselves or sell it.
