Benin Republic to ban products prohibited in Nigeria for stronger cooperation

*As delegation lands in Abuja to understudy country’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on rice production

Government of the Republic of Benin has declared that it will ban any product prohibited in Nigeria from getting to the Africa’s largest economy through its territory and borders, doing this to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Beninoise government made this declaration when a delegation from the country arrived in Nigeria, on Tuesday, to understudy the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) on rice production.

The delegation was made up of the Minister of Finance and Economy, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Mines and Water Resources, the Ambassador of the country to Nigeria and other top government officials from the country.

The Minister of Finance and Economy, Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, said their sole aim of coming to Nigeria was to understudy how the country made a huge success in rice production.

Wadagni, who is the head of the delegation, said the study would help the country boost its local rice production.

While noting that the country’s commitment was to learn from Nigeria and how they have been able to overcome certain challenges faced to achieve success, he said they will not permit any rice that comes through the Republic of Benin to Nigeria.

According to him, “To strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and the Benin Republic, we will ban any product prohibited in Nigeria.

“Benin and Nigeria are the same, anything that disturbs Nigeria country also disturbs us.

“Our commitment is to learn from Nigeria and we hope that in few years we will also celebrate the pyramid in Benin, under the leadership of RIFAN President,” he added.

Earlier, the National President of RIFAN, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, briefed the delegation about RIFAN and its success and how the Association transformed and revolutionised rice production in Nigeria.

Goronyo said the Association developed a template that was adopted by the CBN and accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari which has resulted in the nation’s sufficiency in rice production.

“We developed a template that was adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria and accepted by our President Muhammadu Buhari which as a result, Nigeria is today Rice self-sufficient nation.

“We have more than 12 million farmers working with us producing most of the Rice Paddy the country needs.

“Benin Republic can also leverage on that whereby your country can produce rice to feed herself and export excess to Neighboring countries including Nigeria. If you do this, it means you are creating wealth and job opportunity for your people and your country,” Goronyo said.