Lamentations of Audu Ogbeh

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The reported lamentations of the agric minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh over the local rice price that has remained relatively higher than that of imported rice is really uncalled for.

 He had said that while local rice sold for N16,000, the foreign one went for N13,000. The alarm he raised is really unnecessary because the government should have been prepared for the reactions of the countries exporting rice to Nigeria which are not happy that the country is taking steps to be self sufficient in rice production and processing. 

He should be aware that some of the countries are ready to even give Nigeria free rice, for now, in order to ensure that Nigeria stops its efforts at self sufficiency. What they are doing, by subsidizing their exports to Nigeria is aimed at undermining and undercutting Nigeria’s efforts and it is all part of the politics of international trade which should have been understood by government and its agents. 

What the government needs to do is constitute committee on how to checkmate these saboteurs and their local agents. The government, through the Nigerian Customs Service and FMARD should hold meetings with the known importers of the commodity and let them know that what they are doing is inimical to the development of their fatherland; or on the other way round, the police should be brought in to explain to the importers (supported with statistics, of course) that by continuing to import or smuggle foreign rice, jobs are being given to foreigners at the expense of Nigerians and consequently  there would be high unemployment and corresponding crime rate.