activities, especially rice, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration
is betting on same measure to rekindle the agriculture sector.
The government’s directive will save the country billions of naira on
import bills.
Receiving a delegation of Katsina State Elders Forum at his country home
in Daura, the President said the country’s domestic fuel consumption had
dropped by more than 30 per cent, following closure of land borders.
President Buhari said he had not given any date for the reopening of the
land border until the situation improves.
The President commended the actions taken by the President of Niger
Republic, Muhammadou Youssoufou, including the dismissal of officials
and a ban on use of the country as a dumping ground for Nigeria-bound
smuggled goods.
President Buhari noted that the measures taken by the President of Niger
were helpful and supportive.
President Buhari acknowledged the hardship of border communities
following the ban on sale of fuel at stations 20 kilometres to the
border, a restriction that also saw to the closure of all fuel stations
in his native home, Daura.
”Farmers must be protected. Dishonesty is deep rooted in the country.
Otherwise the border closer would not have been warranted,” he said.
According to him, the restriction was a temporary measure as the
Nigerian Customs Service needed to ascertain outlets involved in real
sale of products and those being used for smuggling.
President Buhari told the delegation that he intends forging ahead with
poverty alleviation schemes and the agricultural and livestock reforms
started by the administration in the first term, since the election was
behind him and a government now in place.
He explained that the reforms, especially those relating to the
settlement of livestock herders would take time to accomplish, assuring
that his deliberate choice of tested farmers as his past and current
ministers of agriculture was informed by the need to carry his vision
through.
Earlier in his remark, the representative of the Chairman of the Elders
Forum, Alhaji Aliyu Saulawa, commended the achievements of President
Buhari and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State in curbing the
menace of bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
He, however, drew a long list of requests which included a special
intervention fund to assist victims of attacks, completion of the 10
megawatts wind power project in the state, setting up of a North-West
Development Commission and setting up of Ruga farm settlements.
He said the farm settlements were urgently needed.
The Elders Forum also made a case for numerous infrastructure projects
for the state, as well as for keener federal government’s scrutiny of
benefits of social investment schemes.
President Buhari promised to look at the requests.
The President added that his constituency is the whole country, and he
is determined to be fair to all, including those that voted him into
office and those that did not.