Rice Production: Audu Ogbeh’s reported claim is untrue – Thailand Ambassador


Wattana Kunwongse, Thailand’s ambassador to Nigeria, has faulted a claim reportedly made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, that Thailand accused Nigeria of being responsible for the collapse of its seven rice mills following the drastic fall in rice importation from the country.

The ambassador, in a letter sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, described the minister’s claim as “misleading and a distortion of the actual discussion that transpired between them”.

A News Agency of Nigeria report published on PREMIUM TIMES on Friday showed that Mr. Ogbeh made the claim, at a meeting of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) and the leadership of the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN) held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the report, the minister said “just like two weeks ago, the Ambassador of Thailand came to my office and said to me that we have really ‘dealt’ with them.

“But I asked what did we do wrong and he said unemployment in Thailand was one of the lowest in the world, 1.2 per cent, it has gone up to four per cent because seven giant rice mills have shut down because Nigeria’s import has fallen by 95 per cent on rice alone”.

However, the diplomat said Mr. Ogbeh may have lied.

“The report is not only misleading but a distortion of the actual conversation between myself and the honourable Minister of Agriculture at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on 30th January 2018, which was nothing short of positivity and optimism on both sides.

“During which I praised President Buhari’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the essence of which is the endeavour to move the country to a self-sufficiency and export-oriented economy, and to that worthy cause, Thailand stands ready to work closely with the Nigerian Government in the field of technological transfer and agricultural machineries.

“At the same meeting, the honourable minister and I had reached the conclusion that I as Ambassador 0f Thailand to Nigeria will be working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and rural development to establish a platform to discuss our mutual benefits in the form of MOU on Agricultural Cooperation and by forming a bilateral Working Committee toward that end.”

He added that the report could not have been farther from the truth as Thailand’s official figures demonstrate that its rice export to the world in 2017 reached 11.48 million tons worth $5.1 billion.

“Thailand’s rice export to the world in 2017 (January-December 2017) reached 11.48 million tons equalising to $5.1 billion (USD), a 15.54 per cent increase compared to previous years, which is one of the highest figures on the history Thailand’s rice exportation. There is no proof of any shutdown of Thailand’s major rice mills,” he said.

Despite the minister’s “misquotation”, the Ambassador said he remains optimistic and looks forward to working together with the Nigerian Government in all fronts in the development of Nigerian agricultural sector.

He noted that based on the warm reception from Mr. Ogbeh when he visited the ministry, he believes the minister is “a great man of integrity who has been working so hard to help Nigeria achieve the goal of self-sustainability in food and agriculture.”

When asked to respond to the ambassador’s rebuttal of Mr. Ogbeh’s statement, the special adviser to the minister on media and publicity, Olukayode Adeleye, said he would have “to crosscheck facts” before responding. He was yet to respond as at the time of this report.

Self-sufficiency in rice production is one of the cardinal objectives of the Muhammadu Buhari administration with different officials calling for a ban on the importation of the product.

In his New Year broadcast in January, President Muhammadu Buhari pledged that his administration will further reduce rice import in 2018. Earlier in August, a director at the agriculture ministry, Muhammad Adamu, announced that Nigeria’s rice production reached 15 million metric tonnes annually.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/260948-rice-production-audu-ogbehs-reported-claim-untrue-thailand-ambassador.html/amp?__twitter_impression=true

I insist, he didn't lie

This government is filled with so many incompetent officials that they might be repeating a lie while not knowing what he is saying, and they do this without any iota of shame .

What a hopeless country.

A government built in lies and surviving in lies

APC is the worst Political Party in the world

Shame..
An old man that should be preoccupied with the solution to the killing of his people in Benue state is busy lying to be in Buhari's good book.

We are not surprised sa...

But my yellowbar Muslims will call this Thailand ambassador an igbo man

we already know Mr Ambassador! Watch how all their zombies will avoid this thread.

The individuals who make up the APC are prolific devious LIARS!

They did not begin their work today. This is a commonality with each of them.

They breathe out lies.

They would rather lie (as it comes naturally) than work. Nothing stopped them from taking the first 6 months to truly prepare for the rest of their tenure. We'd have been in a much different situation if they sincerely assessed their capacity and worked towards positive change.

But "habit eats strategy for breakfast" and these ones are HABITUAL liars!

Nawa

can you imagine how this politicians take us.

Imagine this man lying at his old age

My people if apc tells you good morning go and check very well cos they lie through their anus

Why is every progress made by nigeria a big problem for wailers Useless children of hate abd darkness

When Buhari lied that he will make #1 to $1, did y'all not know that he was setting the pace for shameless lies?

Ofcourse sane folks in Nigeria knew that Audu Ogbeh lied...His lies omly impressed apc zombies who were shaking their weak bumbum in jubilation while eating Thai rice from Iya Mulika buka..

lies on every angle, ambassador came to ur office and said you ve really dealt with them. ludicrous..

see his face, Obasanjo look alike

Your Excellency, please forgive him.
This administration keeps giving us bad image, even in diplomatic circles.

Mr Ogbeh, is a high ranking member of the nest of liars, therefore they try to outdo themselves on who can lie most for the administration.

Maclatunji maclatunji maclatunji maclatunji

Sequel to our argument on the thread in the attached picture, I just want to tell you that the Thailand ambassador has finally responded to your shame

I want to also restate that you are not fit to be a mod on Nairaland.

I hereby nominate myself as a replacement for the unintelligent Maclatunji

LIKE if you support this

SHARE if you don't

Cc: Seun

BankeSmalls:
I insist, he didn't lie

This government is filled with so many incompetent officials that they might be repeating a lie while not knowing what he is saying, and they do this without any iota of shame .

What a hopeless country.

As if lying to us on a daily basis is not enough they have now gone international

The useless Minister expected the Thailand ambassador to keep quiet while he de-markets his nation

blackpanda:
Why is every progress made by nigeria a big problem for wailers Useless children of hate abd darkness

Is lying also a progress

You're delusional

This is a national embarrassment.



How low Nigeria has sunk among the comity of nations

I wonder how the likes of lie muhamed and ogbe advice their children.cause the kind of lies this men lie ehhh

Oyokomboooo!!!!!!


Yet another unwarranted international embarrassment! Apc una doh o!

Sweetgala! Come and see how ur fada has disgraced you further!

NaijaMutant:


Is lying also a progress

You're delusional

of course it is progress because they have moved from local to international stage.

NaijaMutant:


Is lying also a progress

You're delusional

Very!

Another blow on the integrity of this govt...

it is now an internationally confirmed embarrassment.

a whole govt minister telling lies!

That anybody still believed the minister when even a single page on the topic here,market facts and commonsense should have put paid to Audu Ogbeh's lies,shows that some people here and in Nigeria in general,have sawdust for brains.

Just imagine the diplomatic shame & disgrace Nigeria have to suffer because its leaders have a pathologic pechant for lying annoyingly. Too bad for this country.

Disgrace of a nation

NaijaMutant:


Is lying also a progress

You're delusional

Hateful wailing loser

blackpanda:


Hateful wailing loser

I will ensure I increase you frustration on Nairaland

Smh...Even the devil shudders when he see the kind of lies that emmits from Apc's camp..


Tufiakwa..