Former Delta State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Jerry Ossai has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deny importers of textiles and exotic foods, access to foreign exchange.
The farmer made the call in an interview on Thursday, in Asaba while reacting to the CBN policy, aimed at denying importers of fish, rice and toothpicks, access to foreign exchange.
Ossai said that the bank needed to go beyond some of the items listed so far to accommodate textiles, exotic foods and interior decorations and also impose heavy taxes on expensive cars.
According him, the ban will spur local producers of foods, goods and services to meet the country’s shortfall, if any.
“The scandalous expenditure on these imported items could be utilised to develop the local resources.
“India banned imported textiles prior to independence and today, the country is a world leader in the manufacturing of quality textile materials,” he said.
Ossai said that if the country could sustain the ban by closing all loopholes to ensure that the policy succeeded, the country would benefit from it. He said that jobs would be created and businesses would thrive to boost wealth.
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