President Muhammadu Buhari has said the closure of Nigeria’s borders is not meant to punish her neighbours, but to strengthen the country’s security and economy.
He spoke in London at a meeting with a select group of the Nigerian Community in the United Kingdom.
The President explained that the period of closure will be used for stock-taking on threats to the nation’s security and economy.
He also noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure which has drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition.
President Buhari attributed the country’s improved profile in food security to what he described as the “very good last three rainy seasons;” the federal government’s reduction in the price of fertilizers by 50 per cent and the presidential directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to give foreign exchange for food imports thereby saving the nations billions of naira.
