Border reopening will cripple Nigeria’s economy, Rep warns
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Olusola Fatoba, has canvassed support for the manufacturing sector to discourage imports and boost the country’s economy.
This was just as he said clamours in some quarters for the reopening of borders were unnecessary as Nigerians should be preoccupied with how to produce what Nigerians consume rather than dependence on foreign-produced goods.
The lawmaker representing Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Areas of Ekiti State in the National Assembly spoke during a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital on Tuesday.
He said, “Re-opening the borders will not solve the economic crisis the nation has found itself, but it will rather cripple the country. I am not an advocate or a supporter of opening of our borders for foreign goods to be brought into our country.
“Let us endure whatever situation we find ourselves in. We should be able to produce what we eat and if there are things we cannot produce, let us call on the experts from those countries to come and put us through so that we can do them ourselves and we pay those experts off rather than allowing all manners of junks finding their way into our country.”
The federal lawmaker urged state governments to look into programmes that would improve the people’s living standards, saying, “If the federal and state governments can empower the average Nigerian through incentives that will boost massive production at the local level, the economy of Nigeria will be back in no distant time.”
On the rising prices of foodstuffs despite the naira gaining value against the dollar, Fatoba said it was the duty of the government to regulate prices of goods and services in the market at a time like this.
“Appropriate government agencies should be up and doing in ensuring the prices of goods and services are regulated. It is only in Nigeria that whenever the prices of goods and services go up, down becomes difficult unless it’s forced.
“That is why even though Naira is gaining, prices of food keep skyrocketing. But if Nigeria can regulate the prices then we can have a stable and unified price of these things in the market,” he said.
Fatoba added, “If the manufacturing sector is encouraged, it will ease the burden on an average Nigerian. The government should invest massively in agriculture, let us subsidize equipment and staple crops more. We can give out tractors, chemicals, crops and other equipment needed that will enhance farmers’ productivity.
“We should also encourage our artisans to produce those things we need and once we can have them in large quantities, the majority of the challenges facing our country will be solved.
“We also have to plug the loopholes in the economy, money should not just disappear without traces. All these should be accurately accounted for so that it stays in the economy and further stabilizes the economy.”
Fatoba, who hailed the ongoing flyover project in Ekiti State capital, said, “The bridge is necessary to ease movement in the affected area. If you are familiar with the area where the bridge is being constructed, you will know that there is always a bottleneck there when it comes to the movement of goods and services.
“It will add more value to the economy of the state, and by the time the airport is in operation, definitely it is going to enhance the movement of goods and services within that axis. Those coming and going out of the capital will have easy access to neighbouring states and communities. So, to me, it’s a good initiative.”
