Muhammadu Sanusi II, the emir of
Kano, says he supports the federal government’s decision to close the land
borders because of the need to protect rice farmers.
Addressing journalists on
Wednesday at his palace on Wednesday, the emir said the closure is the only
method of enforcing Nigeria’s anti-smuggling laws.
“Closing the borders becomes
indispensable because our neighbouring countries are not helping us to protect
our economy. For instance, if you want to protect rice farmers, you have to
impose heavy taxation on the importation of foreign rice into the country,” the
monarch, who is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said.
“Therefore, any country that
allows smuggling of rice into Nigeria through its borders is doing that at the
expense of our farmers who could not withstand competition with foreign
producers. Besides rice and other food items, you must also understand that all
the illicit drugs get into this country through the land borders.
“So sometimes it is important to
take these difficult decisions so that we get the cooperation and collaboration
of Customs officials across the borders. It is something that I wholeheartedly
support. I think it is temporary and I think it will lead to improvement.”
The Nigerian government had
closed its borders since August with President Muhammadu Buhari saying the move
was to check smuggling.
However, Moustapha Lo, speaker of the ECOWAS
parliament, had requested that the Nigerian government reopens its borders
saying it is not the solution to Nigeria’s smuggling problems.
Commenting on the economic
advisory council recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Sanusi
described it as “one of the best things the government has done for the
country”.
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