Border closure enhances rice value in the country ― Expert

AN expert in food and nutrition and Head of Department of Food Science and Technology, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Dr Dahiru  Adamu, said the border closure has greatly enhanced the rice value chain in the country, as well provide job opportunity to many Nigerians.

Dr Adamu spoke on Thursday, as a guest lecturer at the commissioning of the Ultra-modern PRNigeria Centre in Kano built by Image Merchant Promotions Limited (IMPR) publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential.

His words: “the rebellion posture of the federal government on border closure has quick wins which include food security, quality and safety, nutrition, reduction in corruption and the development of appropriate technologies.

“The rice value chain will also enhance the use of critical manpower development, logistics control and development, sustainable employment, sustainable income to enable individual, corporate and national planning strategies.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, BUK, Dr Haruna Ismail urged the government to use the media to promote the policies on national security and interest, saying the advantages of border closure would enhance local production of Nigeria’s rice and value addition.

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However, the Managing Director of Fursa Foods Alhaji Abba Dantata who is also an executive member of the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria(RIPAN) threw his weight behind the border closure, noting that the development has enhanced the production of the commodity.

Alhaji Dantata noted that Nigerian rice has more nutritional value compared to the imported ones apart from the multiplier effect of employment generation through the various rice value chain.

Earlier, the Chairman and founder of PRNigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib said the event was focused on four critical areas namely: Commissioning the PRNigeria Centre, a glimpse of his new book on Crisis Communication and his voluntary retirement from public service after 25 years at the age of fifty (50) years on earth.

Shuaib said the centre is dedicated to the training and mentoring of those inclined to investigative Journalism and Public Relations practice, while also serving as a centre for conferences and seminars in collaboration with critical stakeholders such as NIPR and  Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ).

At the occasion were members of the academia from the Bayero University Kano, representatives of the Nigerian Army, Customs, Civil Defense, Nigeria Correctional Service, businessmen and the traditional rulers and Sarkin Kofar Dukawuya of Kano, Alhaji Maitama Bello.