The association which used the occasion to celebrate President Buhari on his birthday, also advised the President not to give in to cheap blackmail on his decision to close the country’s land border, saying the decision has curtailed illegal importation of unsafe rice by some businessman.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National President of Association, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, and made available to journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said, “on behalf of 12.2 million rice farmers, as well as 108 executives of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) across the country, I Alhaji Aminu Goronyo the National President of RIFAN wish to extend our congratulations to President Muhammadu Bihari Buhari, GCFR, on the occasion of his 77th birthday