Photo by Benson Ibeabuchi / AFP

FG, Kano read riot act to food hoarders 

The Federal Government, yesterday, ordered the release of 102,000 metric tonnes of rice and maize to Nigerians.

It also disclosed that it might embark on importation of to augment supplies.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after meeting with the Presidential Committee on Food Emergency in Abuja.

He said: “The President has directed that food will be made available, whatever it will take”

The decision followed a series of deliberations by the committee, in reaction to the protests by Nigerians over high cost of food and other economic challenges.

Besides, the government has threatened to penalise hoarders.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who made the disclosure yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu,  warned that people hoarding food items would be severely dealt with.

He said Ribadu spoke during a meeting with the governors

Sule said the minister is also considering the idea of opening up the grain reserve to address the problem.

Kyari, earlier in his address, applauded responses of the state governments to their letter calling for Expression of Interest in the second phase of the 2023/2024 dry season farming.

SIMILARLY, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has vowed to close market and crackdown on the economic saboteurs and address price instability,

The warning came barely 24 hours after Singer Market Traders Association, one of the largest sections of Kano business hub, threatened shutdown over alleged undue pressure from government and the public over exorbitant food items, adding that they would rather prefer to keep their goods in stores.

Reacting to the development however, chairman of the anti-graft body, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado reminded that the business community has no authority to needlessly embark on action that could trigger more hunger and frustration in the state.

He declared that the government has the responsibility to ensure law and order in the society, adding that his organisation would not tolerate more hardship on the masses.

Published Date: February 9, 2024