The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has condemned the high rate of smuggling of agricultural products into the country, describing the development as economic sabotage.

The Senate President spoke when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anadariya Farms, Alhaji Usman Dantata led representatives of the Poultry Farmers’ Association of Nigeria on a visit to his office.

A statement by Saraki’s media aide, Chuks Okocha, the Senate President tasked the Nigerian Customs Service to step up its anti- smuggling campaigns on rice, chicken and other items, saying that Nigeria should not be a dumping ground for imported smuggled goods.

Against this backdrop, Saraki has mandated the Senate Committee on Agriculture to investigate why the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Finance have yet to pay compensation to poultry farmers who lost their birds to the recent outbreak of the Avian Influenza (bird flu) in the country.

Said he, “We will see what we can do particularly on the issue of non-payment of compensation to farmers that lost their birds to the Avian Influenza. These farmers who are doing well, need our encouragement.

“This is where government will show true  interest in agriculture and ensure that all compensations are paid. So, Chairman Committee on Agriculture, take note and meet the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance and see what we can do,” he said.

Describing smuggling as a serious problem confronting the country, Saraki said about 40 to 50 percent of poultry products were still being smuggled into the country.

“Something needs to be done about it. Nigeria Customs must sit up because it is an economic sabotage. It is now that we must stop this smuggling particularly on Agricultural products like rice and chicken.

“We will take this up aggressively. Without that, we are only wasting our time.  Nothing we are going to do at this level in support of agriculture if products are still going to be smuggled in. Chicken is still being smuggled in Rice still being smuggled in.

“This is something we must fight as a nation. This is economic sabotage we are talking about and the management of the Nigeria Customs must rise up. Either they are ready to do it or we give it to people that are ready to do it.