We Gained Tremendously From Border Closure, Buhari Tells Netherlands Queen

The closure of the nation’s borders for over one 12 months helped Nigeria “tremendously”, President Muhammadu Buhari has mentioned.

 

The Federal Authorities had, in August 2019, ordered a closure of the nation’s land borders over unlawful importation of medicine, arms and agricultural merchandise into Nigeria from neighbouring West African international locations.

 

In December 2020, Buhari ordered the reopening of 4 land borders.

 

Months after the reopening, the president had expressed concern that the closure of the borders didn’t cease arms smuggling into Nigeria.

 

The president, who’s at the moment in New York for the 76th United Nations basic meeting, held a gathering with Maxima Zorreguieta, Queen of the Netherlands, on Wednesday.

 

In accordance with an announcement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari highlighted developmental efforts within the nation, including that his administration’s focus has been on infrastructure.

The president, who mentioned there had been limitations owing to the fluctuations in oil costs, mentioned if Zorreguieta visits Nigeria, she’s going to see a serious distinction in comparison with 2017 when she final visited.

 

“With out infrastructure, improvement could be restricted, so we put emphasis on constructing roads, rail, and energy. Now we have a complete plan, and we’re doing our greatest,” Buhari was quoted as saying.

 

As Adesina famous, the president mentioned the choice to shut the nation’s borders was to encourage farmers, “and eat what we develop”.

 

“Individuals went again to the land, and this helped us tremendously. We made fertilisers accessible, resuscitated dams, and all of it paid off handsomely.

 

“In any other case, with about 200 million folks, we’d have been in hassle when COVID-19 struck, and affected the financial system,” Buhari mentioned.

 

He additionally famous that Nigeria is open to extra investments, particularly in agriculture.

 

“Now we have the land, we have now the folks; capital enter is what we want,” Buhari added.

 

The queen, in her remarks, lauded the Buhari administration for “the large effort” made to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The presidential spokesman additionally mentioned the Queen of the Netherlands provided to look into supporting Nigeria, particularly in agriculture, so long as the mandatory infrastructure is in place.