Why The Country's Borders Was Closed For 2 Years - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari announced Monday that his administration would close the country's borders to protect farmers. Buhari said as AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina announced the bank's $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan to cushion the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is likely to spark a worldwide food catastrophe.

The President, who addressed the AfDB boss during a meeting in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, noted that much progress had been made in supporting indigenous farmers since the land borders were closed two years ago. He complimented the AfDB, on the other hand, for anticipating the harmful repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on food security.

"We appreciate your awareness of our limitations and strengths, as well as your ability to plan and work forward."

We are acutely aware of the importance of food security and the necessity of supporting local farmers, which is why we closed our borders for approximately two years to combat smuggling. "We made strides," the President stated.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has allocated $1.5 billion to Africa's impending food crisis.

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Since then, the federal government has reopened several land borders. Adesina warned in his remarks that Africa might face a fertiliser crisis, resulting in a two million metric tonne shortfall. He noted that the price of wheat had already increased by almost 60%, while the price of maize and other grains would also be affected.

"Wheat prices have already increased by roughly 60%. Maize and other crops will be impacted as well. There may be a fertiliser problem, as there would be a deficit of almost two million metric tonnes. And this will have a 20% impact on food output. Africa will lose $11 billion worth of food, which would be rather serious coming so soon after COVID-19. " Dr Adesina stated that in preparation for the dreadful day, "the AfDB prepared a $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan, which is now before the bank's Board of Directors for approval."

"We were unprepared for COVID-19," he continued, "but we are now working to avert a food crisis on the continent." Farmers will be assisted in cultivating wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. It will help lessen the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, "Adesina stated.

Speaking specifically about Nigeria, the AfDB president, who was previously the country's Minister of Agriculture, stated that during the wet season of 2022, at least five million smallholder farmers would be assisted in cultivating one million hectares of maize, one million hectares of rice, and 250,000 hectares of sorghum and soybeans, respectively."

In total, our assistance will enable Nigeria to produce 9.5 million metric tonnes of food, "he continued. He said Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory, among others, will benefit from the help.