Let’s Import Rice To Nigeria At Cheaper Rate, Vietnam Appeals

• Let’s Import Rice To Nigeria At Cheaper Rate, Vietnam Appeals

Nigeria’s border closure which is aimed at preventing the activities of smuggling, especially of rice, so as to promote the nation’s farmers and manufacturers of other commodities, has seen some countries lobbying for the opportunity to bring in their goods.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has said it is ready to import rice to Nigeria at discounted rates, noting that it would also like to increase its trade cooperation with the country.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue made the request when he led a delegation to meet the National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomshole in Abuja.

Hue said his country wants to strengthen relations with Nigeria through cultural and sports exchanges.

Other agricultural items that the Vietnamese made a case for were cashew, seafood, leather shoes and textile.

Responding, Oshiomhole insists that Nigeria would not accept such demand from Vietnam, saying the country should rather acquire land in Nigeria and invest in rice production.

He stressed that the nation would no longer be a dumping ground for unwanted chemicals and spoilt products among other, noting that Nigeria’s borders would remain closed until neighbouring countries learn to respect the rule of fair trade.

“Nigerians should unanimously back the decision of the federal government to close the border until our neighbours try to respect the laws of fair and free trade. Nigeria must not and can’t be a dumping ground for imported food, imported rice and other smuggled chemicals and drugs from other countries.

“I think this is one policy that Nigerians across the party divide, across primordial sentiments, should salute the courage of President Muhammadu Buhari in closing down the borders.

“For too long, Nigeria has been a big brother to our neighbours. Now, that big brother is hurting and hurting very, very badly. We must secure ourselves as in the way you board an aircraft that if oxygen fails, and they drop the mask, you help yourself before helping others.

“This is the moment. We must close the borders even if we do it for two, three years, it doesn’t matter. So that our neighbours will begin to respect the rules of international engagement and trade.

“What has happened is that people relocate out of Nigeria, target Nigerian market, use our neighbours to compromise our own trade policies,” he stated.