Economic Hardship: Group Begs Tinubu to Lift Ban on Food Importation

Amid the economic hardship facing Nigerians, a group, Social Rehabilitation Grace and Supportive Initiative, yesterday called on President Bola Tinubu to open land borders for urgent importation of grains and building materials to create a competition and control the current inflation.

The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Dr Charles Oludare, explained that opening of the borders will checkmate “saboteur tendencies” of local producers frustrating the economy.

The group, while noting that Nigeria shut its land borders in August 2019, protecting local farmers, boosting local food production and curbing arms influx that threatened the country's security, explained that closures had not brought any gains to its citizens.

"In light of food shortages in Nigeria and the hardship this is causing the people of the country, I will like to urge President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his position on food importation into the country.

"While this position not to open the boarders is based on his vision of a self sufficient Nigeria, I believe it is flawed in strategy of addressing the immediate needs while keeping track of future goals, hence a more pragmatic approach is required.

"An estimate is only as good as its variables. While I may not have full detail of the situation as the president and his advisers, I think there is no gainsaying the fact that food supply is insufficient in Nigeria.

“The plans to fix the security challenges and ensure adequate food production is a medium to long term plan, it will not fix the problem in the meantime. So, it is necessary pending the time when security gets better and when farmers feel safe enough to farm," the group added.

It however, said no country can successfully close its borders permanently As no country is an island.

"While it is a thing of pride to say we grow the food we eat, we must first eat the food in order to be able to grow food. I will say food security trumps food productivity.

“This is why the president should allow food to come into the country. We can allow food importation and still support our farmers at the same time. Both actions are not mutually exclusive,” it argued.