Benin Republic plans to flood Nigeria with tonnes of foreign rice – FGN
By AgroNigeria -November 27, 2019

Following the border closure policy which has deteriorated ties between Nigeria and Benin Republic, the Federal Government of Nigeria has accused its African counterpart of planning to smuggle a substantial amount of imported rice into the country.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed raised the alarm yesterday in a press conference alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Bangida Monguno (rtd) and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, when they visited the border outpost in Seme.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government had uncovered details that there were ships berthing in Benin waters and loaded with 105,000 metric tonnes of foreign rice, with the intention to smuggle the commodity into Nigeria for the Yuletide period. He listed the loaded ships and their contents as MV Africana Jacana, 40,000mt; MV Zilos, 20,000 mt and MV Sam Jarguar 45,000 mt.

Revealing that the Republic of Benin had concluded an arrangement with Japan to import rice valued at $30 million, Lai Mohammed said that it was obvious that the destination of the imported rice was Nigeria, owing to the fact that shipment was beyond what could be consumed by the Benin population of less than 25 million people.

The Minister also accused Benin and Niger of circumventing the ECOWAS protocol on transit, which requires that when a transit container berths at a seaport, the receiving country is mandated to escort the same without tampering with the seal to the border of the destination country.

“Unfortunately, experience has shown that our neighbors do not comply with this protocol. Rather, they break the seals of containers at their ports and trans-load goods meant for Nigeria,” he said.

Lai Mohammed said that the closure of the borders was also to curb the entry of kidnappers and terrorists who smuggle arms and illicit drugs into the country.

In his remarks, 95% of the illicit drugs and weapons being used to perpetrate terrorism and kidnapping in Nigeria arrived through porous borders, saying that the ongoing Operations Swift Exercise and border closure effected by the government had led to arrests and seizure of goods worth N3.5billion.

The Minister further stated that since the partial closure, the acts had drastically reduced. “The partial closure had also curbed the smuggling of foreign rice into the country, in addition to other prohibited items. Our series of interactions and engagements with Rice Miller Association of Nigeria since the commencement of this exercise has shown that the border closure has enhanced more production and milling of Nigerian Rice.” He said.

https://agronigeria.ng/2019/11/27/benin-republic-plans-to-flood-nigeria-with-tonnes-of-foreign-rice-fgn/

No need to raise alarm.

If they give us for free..... We will accept.

But if they think we will buy from them, sorry o. We will misplace the key to the border

Beninoise shouldn't be blame rather blame Nigerians that are reluctant to change. Dear minister It is expected because of the yuletide season around the corner. Instead of raising alarm, get your men to track those smugglers

you see how hypocrisy will kill these zoo country called Nigeria. See their whole officials accusing a whole sovereign nation of repute being more progressive and safer than them of being common thieves and smugglers as if that meagre 30 million dollars will save Benin or develop Benin when that money can't even build a 20 kilometers dual carriage road much more the little profit made from this 30 million dollars.

When Ghana and South Africa accuse Nigeria of being thieves, smugglers,drug dealers ,prostitutes, kidnappers, smuggling of cheap inferior goods into the country and engaging in illegal petty trade businesses, these same people will be shouting Xenophobia,not all Nigerians are thieves and kidnappers,they hate us,etc etc buh they see it as normal to accuse Benin and their government of being smugglers forgetting it's these same Nigerian igbo brothers that import these rice through Benin ports.

They once claim and celebrated Ghana has collapsed because they closed their stupid border which Ghanaians don't even know exist whilst their prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed amidst their poverty capital of the world title.

I can't belive this from Mr lie hunmnm

The hunger in the country is already enough !

Why not look for ways to handle them, its not good to call a whole nation smugglers, its still our brother's here that are giving them the links on how to move things in. Let's deal with ourselves first before facing other nations. Pls let it remain closed.

Block them all. Local rice is available everywhere now.

Officialgarri:
No need to raise alarm.

If they give us for free..... We will accept.

But if they think we will buy from them, sorry o. We will misplace the key to the border

how will Nigeria get better when we have people like you....

Its good. Since local rice is inadequate

haryorbarmie83 :
Block them all. Local rice is available everywhere now.

if in case you are not happy why you are hungry remember this guy supports this...


Man is an enemy to man

psychologygh:
you see how hypocrisy will kill these zoo country called Nigeria. See their whole officials accusing a whole sovereign nation of repute being more progressive and safer than them of being common thieves and smugglers as if that meagre 30 million dollars will save Benin or develop Benin when that money can't even build a 20 kilometers dual carriage road much more the little profit made from this 30 million dollars.

When Ghana and South Africa accuse Nigeria of being thieves, smugglers,drug dealers ,prostitutes, kidnappers, smuggling of cheap inferior goods into the country and engaging in illegal petty trade businesses, these same people will be shouting Xenophobia,not all Nigerians are thieves and kidnappers,they hate us,etc etc buh they see it as normal to accuse Benin and their government of being smugglers forgetting it's these same Nigerian igbo brothers that import these rice through Benin ports.

They once claim and celebrated Ghana has collapsed because they closed their stupid border which Ghanaians don't even know exist whilst their prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed amidst their poverty capital of the world title.

You must be a very stupid person indeed.

Where in this story was Ghana mentioned? You jump into things that don't concern you.

Nigeria is a zoo according to you but you are obviously obsessed with Nigeria, going by the way you stay glued to this discussion forum.

This your hatred for Nigeria will kill you.

Through which means oo

psychologygh:
you see how hypocrisy will kill these zoo country called Nigeria. See their whole officials accusing a whole sovereign nation of repute being more progressive and safer than them of being common thieves and smugglers as if that meagre 30 million dollars will save Benin or develop Benin when that money can't even build a 20 kilometers dual carriage road much more the little profit made from this 30 million dollars.

When Ghana and South Africa accuse Nigeria of being thieves, smugglers,drug dealers ,prostitutes, kidnappers, smuggling of cheap inferior goods into the country and engaging in illegal petty trade businesses, these same people will be shouting Xenophobia,not all Nigerians are thieves and kidnappers,they hate us,etc etc buh they see it as normal to accuse Benin and their government of being smugglers forgetting it's these same Nigerian igbo brothers that import these rice through Benin ports.

They once claim and celebrated Ghana has collapsed because they closed their stupid border which Ghanaians don't even know exist whilst their prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed amidst their poverty capital of the world title.

Are they now rewarding people who make senseless contributions in Ghana?

Do Ghana even have any forum to discuss about their internal affairs?

Charlie, crawl back to your shell now now..

Benin Republic, Ghana, Niger, Chad will all eat their smuggled items these December because the security at the borders will be tighter. If they don't take their time, they will run into huge debts that Nigeria will start buying their citizens as slaves.

Don't believe this man.Never accept anything said by the legendary Lai-Lying-Liar Mohammed.This man lied about Nigeria's self-sufficiency in rice production and collapse of the Thailand Rice Pyramids.

psychologygh:
you see how hypocrisy will kill these zoo country called Nigeria. See their whole officials accusing a whole sovereign nation of repute being more progressive and safer than them of being common thieves and smugglers as if that meagre 30 million dollars will save Benin or develop Benin when that money can't even build a 20 kilometers dual carriage road much more the little profit made from this 30 million dollars.

When Ghana and South Africa accuse Nigeria of being thieves, smugglers,drug dealers ,prostitutes, kidnappers, smuggling of cheap inferior goods into the country and engaging in illegal petty trade businesses, these same people will be shouting Xenophobia,not all Nigerians are thieves and kidnappers,they hate us,etc etc buh they see it as normal to accuse Benin and their government of being smugglers forgetting it's these same Nigerian igbo brothers that import these rice through Benin ports.

They once claim and celebrated Ghana has collapsed because they closed their stupid border which Ghanaians don't even know exist whilst their prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed amidst their poverty capital of the world title.

Dude, shouldn’t you be back home licking the feet of our pot harcot first Dota?

ornicus:


Dude, shouldn’t you be back home licking the feet of our pot harcot first Dota?

at least she's half Ghanaian and if a local twi television station invites her to return to her own motherland with two paid dancers and 30 of her Nigerian fans who live in Ghana to welcome her at our beautiful and best airport in West Africa ,how's that licking someone's feet.99.9% of Ghanaians don't even know that she exists. Go to that same UTV facebook's page and see the insults they received from Ghanaians when they posted this news .And Ghana is far better than your zoo over populated country called Nigeria. That's a fact.

edoairways:
Beninoise shouldn't be blame rather blame Nigerians that are reluctant to change. Dear minister It is expected because of the yuletide season around the corner. Instead of raising alarm, get your men to track those smugglers

Do you think the rice produce in Nigeria is enough .. don't be decieved , it's not enough, infact farmers are exhausted here in the north, because it's unexpected ...The govt knows the real issue with our neighbours, because much need to done in Nigeria before we can be self reliant, incentives need to be given to our farmers and biz men, u can't just wake up one morning and close the border when u are not producing enough... Even at the border closure , people are still bringing in rice via many route here in Taraba even in gembu area via the Cameroonian border...Our institutions are not working, corruption is everywhere, the price of rice has increase because the demand is more than the produced quantities... Rice farming takes months grow it... Before processing...as such, much need to be done before we can starts talking about border closure...immigration, customs are all thieves...Lagos port is the only main port in the whole Nigeria and the stress in clearing takes months joined with the hold along the road... But in Benin, before 2days , your good is cleared , they are using sophisticated equipments in processing and clearing of good which makes it very easy and most people prefer to go through their port and pass via the borders to Nigeria, but since our customs is not doing their work, the govt decide to blame border countries...even at the shot at sight order people are still smuggling..Nigerians will only suffer because nothing will change, all those gain been mentioned by the govt is audio gain...#fact.

psychologygh:
you see how hypocrisy will kill these zoo country called Nigeria. See their whole officials accusing a whole sovereign nation of repute being more progressive and safer than them of being common thieves and smugglers as if that meagre 30 million dollars will save Benin or develop Benin when that money can't even build a 20 kilometers dual carriage road much more the little profit made from this 30 million dollars.

When Ghana and South Africa accuse Nigeria of being thieves, smugglers,drug dealers ,prostitutes, kidnappers, smuggling of cheap inferior goods into the country and engaging in illegal petty trade businesses, these same people will be shouting Xenophobia,not all Nigerians are thieves and kidnappers,they hate us,etc etc buh they see it as normal to accuse Benin and their government of being smugglers forgetting it's these same Nigerian igbo brothers that import these rice through Benin ports.

They once claim and celebrated Ghana has collapsed because they closed their stupid border which Ghanaians don't even know exist whilst their prices of foodstuffs skyrocketed amidst their poverty capital of the world title.

Was about taking you serious when I checked your name again and hissed...We know you very well and we don't take you and your Ghanian's serious. Focus on making your country a better place not mentioning South Africa and that your shit hole country in the same sentence.

Click like if you want thunder to fire that liar....

psychologygh:
at least she's half Ghanaian and if a local twi television station invites her to return to her own motherland with two paid dancers and 30 of her Nigerian fans who live in Ghana to welcome her at our beautiful and best airport in West Africa ,how's that licking someone's feet.99.9% of Ghanaians don't even know that she exists. Go to that same UTV facebook's page and see the insults they received from Ghanaians when they posted this news .And Ghana is far better than your zoo over populated country called Nigeria. That's a fact.

Pls i want to ask,Do you receive notifications when Ghana is mentioned on Nairaland?

I support the border closure but some things were supposed to be in place before then.

It is only God that is my protector bcosThe rice i'm eating is an apology.We chew gently,very gently to avoid stones..Another product i tried produced so much water overnight even when it was dried before i slept.

In the past two weeks i cooked spaghetti in place of rice,but being Nigerians that we are Spaghetti price has increased too.Spaghetti demand has gone up because of poverty,safety(teeth safety) and availability!



The Research Agencies should have improved varieties and seedlings thst would yield double or triple the normal quantity per hectare.Destoning and drying machines arent left out too.

They should go back and have around table discussion with countries that are self sufficient in Rice production.