Poultry farmers’ boss hails govt on border closure

The President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim 

The President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim Mam has commended the administration of the President Mohammadu Buhari for his political will to close all the land borders against illegal importation of banned items into the country. He made the commendation in an exclusive with Foodfarmnews in Abuja.

Mr. Mam who remarked that this was the first time the enforcement of the ten-year ban policy on some poultry items would be enforced through the serious manning of the porous borders said the sustenance of the directive would reduce incidence of cancer usually occasioned by imported chickens.

The PAN President said the positive impact of the policy was already taking the tolls on smugglers while the positive effects on farmers as there would be increase in productivity as market is now created for home grown foods and livestock.

His words: ‘’ the ban on some agricultural commodities have been in place for the past 10 years, but the closure of land borders to checkmate the porous ones have never been this effective. Now the closure of border has limited the activities of smugglers, while it has increased demand for our products. Our members are better off now than before. The greatest challenge of the country is our inability to secure our border. Whereas most developed countries always fortified their border with military presence so that illegal people would not gain access with their smuggled contrabands, our own borders here are too porous to invaders.’’

Speaking on the health implication, he said that ‘’ we are much happy as there is higher demand now for our chickens. Imported frozen chickens cause cancer which is very rampant in some of the country. When you eat healthy, one will not need to go to the hospital. Go to Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt to see people who are sick as result of cancer. This has to stop.’’