Federal Government of Nigeria has been given a 14-day ultimatum to lift the ban on rice importation by The Campaign for Democracy, CD, to help reduce premature deaths by suicidal actions by hungry and frustrated Nigerians.
National Publicity Secretary of CD, Dede Uzor Uzor, who gave the ultimatum in Onitsha, Anambra State yesterday, said since government does not have any incentive for farmers to produce enough rice for local consumption, there is no need banning importation of such an important commodity.
Describing rice as one of the favourite staples of every family, Uzor declared that “with Nigeria being unable to grow enough rice for the population of about 180 million, continued placement of ban on it would only aggravate the situation and cause more harm than good.”