RIPAN throws weight behind FG’s partial border closure

By Babajide Okeowo

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, RIPAN has endorsed the partial closure of the Nigeria-Benin border widely called Seme Border by the Presidency saying this move will save the country over $400 million (N144 billion) in revenue loss and boosting the productivity of operators in the sector.

According to the National Chairman of RIPAN, Muhammed Abubakar Maifata the move was needed to address the rising case of rice smuggling into Nigeria from neighbouring countries. The group added that the country would have lost $400 million to smuggling of foreign rice through the land borders.

While explaining the severity of rice importation, Maifata disclosed that from January to date, over one million metric tonnes of rice were brought into Benin mostly from Thailand and India.

In his words, “We came to let the whole world know that we support this action and we are with the government in this journey. We will support them with all what we can, in terms of information and statistics – whatever they need from us – we are ready to do it. We want the whole nation to support the government in this fight. It is for the benefit of Nigeria. I want you to know that the insinuation that we cannot feed ourselves with rice is not true” he said.

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Maifata further stated that the ban had opened up opportunities for the industry and all the rice mills in the country had begun to produce at 100% production capacity.

“We as an association met yesterday and tasked ourselves to produce massively so that we can fill the gap voided by the smuggling activities. And we are up to the task and are determined to do it. By this action of government, it has opened up many things within this week of the closure of the border. All the mills are now producing at almost 100% capacity. Procurement of paddy has resumed by the millers and farmers are happy because they are expecting new harvests in November” he added.

Meanwhile, following the partial closure of the border, stakeholders have cautioned the government not to destroy businesses at the border.

Speaking at the pre-Annual General Meeting media briefing of the association in Lagos, the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mansur Ahmed, said although the government might have the good intention of protecting the businesses in Nigeria, it must also ensure that the action did not affect Nigerian entrepreneurs operating genuine businesses on that axis.