By Kunle Akinsola
Nigeria is currently producing enough food to feed its citizens and also export to neighbouring countries, so says Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Soba Nanono.
He spoke against the backdrop of comments by some Nigerians that there is hunger in the land.
Describing such claims as laughable, Nanono insisted: “There is no hunger in Nigeria.’’
“I think we are producing enough to feed ourselves. I think there is no hunger in Nigeria; there could be inconveniences. When people talk about hunger in this government, I just laugh,” he told a media briefing to mark the 2019 World Food Day in Abuja.
He added: “Food is very cheap in Nigeria compared to other countries. In this country, it is fairly cheap to buy food.”
Justifying border closure, the minister said the Federal Government decided to shut down the borders to check the excesses of neighbouring countries that had made Nigeria a dumping ground for expired rice and other goods.
“That is the basis for the closure of the border and I think Nigeria tried to make these neighbouring countries understand our predicament but to no avail.
“So long as these countries bordering us will not respect Nigerian stand on food importation, the borders will remain closed,” Nanono said.
