The Federal Government and the Republic of Benin have reached a deal to end the importation of rice in the Economic Community of West African States.
This deal was announced at the end of a meeting between a delegation from Benin and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) led by Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed met with Ibrahim Gambari, the chief of staff to the president, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Beninese delegation was led by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Gaston Dossouhoui.
Prior to the meeting, members of RIFAN were recently in Cotonou, the Country’s capital recently on the invitation of President Patrice Tallon for discussion on how the MoU would be fine-tuned and signed.
The delegation was received by President Patrice Talon in his residential house in Cotonou along with his minister of agriculture and foreign affairs.
Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, explained that the meeting was to advance ongoing talks between the two countries on how to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming program in the Benin Republic.
“Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria met with the chief of staff to the president to progress the discussion which has been going on between them and the Benin Republic for the two countries to replicate the success of Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin, so that we can stop rice importation in West Africa in shortest possible time,” Bagudu said.
“This is a partnership within the framework of ECOWAS agreement and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and our brotherly relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Talon who have the vision that we can be greater together.”
On his part, National President of RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, explained that the Beninese government was desirous of learning from Nigerian experience in rice production.
Goronyo said, “They are here because they have seen the successes recorded in the area of rice production in Nigeria and their president was so happy; he was excited. And he said they must come to Nigeria, partner with Nigerian rice farmers and see how Nigerian farmers can replicate the same thing in Benin Republic, so that they will be able to achieve the successes this government recorded in the area of rice production.”
