NANS chieftain appeals to FG on reopening of borders

The Senate Presidential aspirant of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Olalere Benedict Adetunji has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review some of the policies he met when he assumed office as well as take a critical look at some areas of the economy which affects the continuous survival of the masses bearing in mind that the major challenge of the common man starts from food.
Adetunji who said this through a statement he issued and made available to newsmen in Ibadan vouched for the present administration saying “from our observations as students, we understands that Tinubu’s government mean well for Nigerians, but there is need for urgent review of some of the policies he met on ground.”
He added that “The policy of the last administration which imposed a ban on importation of rice is not really good because the adverse effect of the policy affected the masses, especially Nigerian students.
“As a sovereign country, the local production of rice is not enough for over 200 million Nigerians. According to our research, the production of rice in Nigeria can’t feed 20 percent of her population but kudos must go to Rifan and Central Bank on the drastic approach established for the large production of rice.”
The Immediate past National President of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) however, stated that what the country need at this time when Petroleum subsidy has been removed is the lifting of ban on importation of rice and some other commodities which we cannot produce in large quantity.
“My advice is that we should continue the production of rice locally while the borders should be opened for foods alone to be imported and when we have assurances that the production of rice and other commodities are enough, then the ban on importation can be activated again.”
He further lamented that a bag of Rice is now being sold as high as N 42,000 which is outrageous for the economy of Nigerian students and the masses. “Everyone knows that the most stable food in Nigeria is rice and the ban has skyrocketed the price and made people hungry which is why I’m appealing for the reverse of the policy.
Adetunji who is popularly called OBA however urged President Tinubu to ensure food security for all students on campuses, stressing that a student who doesn’t eat well can’t read and study well,
“I have an idea on how this can work with reliable Nigerians like Otunba Yomi Odunnowo. For any nation to grow, the private sector need to be encouraged and as such the Federal Government need to give adequate attention to the policy of approving grants to support entrepreneurs in Nigeria; creating an enabling environment for them be it in the real estate sector, agriculture, automobiles, manufacturing and others.
“Entrepreneurs should be considered in all arrangements that have to do with palliatives and policy to cushion the effects of subsidy removal because their contributions to the GDP of Nigeria can’t be undermined.
The leading NANS Senate Presidential hopeful, concluded by saying that with all the assurances of the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of the present administration, Nigeria will be great again.