#PMBAt77: Rice farmers urge Buhari to maintain border closure

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to remain focused in his mission to develop Nigeria and maintain the border closure.

The association which used the occasion to celebrate President Buhari on his birthday, also advised the President not to give in to cheap blackmail on his decision to close the country’s land border, saying the decision has curtailed illegal importation of unsafe rice by some businessman.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National President of Association, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, and made available to journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said, “on behalf of 12.2 million rice farmers, as well as 108 executives of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) across the country, I Alhaji Aminu Goronyo the National President of RIFAN wish to extend our congratulations to President Muhammadu Bihari Buhari, GCFR, on the occasion of his 77th birthday.

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“Mr President you have exhibited uncommon wisdom, remarkable vision, and exemplary leadership. We wish you peace, good health, and happiness.

“We will continue to be proud of your resilience, focused and prosperous leadership specifically your decision to closed the borders in order to curtail the illegal activities of rice smugglers that will subsequently lead to self-sufficiency in indigenous rice production which we at RIFAN refers to as ‘operation feeds ourselves’.

“We equally appreciate Mr President initiatives of anchor-browsers Programme under the supervision of Central Bank of Nigeria which helps farmers greatly and continue to make agriculture as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy” he concluded.