In response to the escalating food crisis and subsequent protests in parts of the country, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday tasked key national security officials with addressing the issue of food hoarding, which is exacerbating the soaring cost of food items across Nigeria.
The directive follows a strategic meeting in Abuja with state governors to discuss the nation’s pressing food crisis, highlighted by recent protests in Niger State over the rising cost of food, attributed in part to the hoarding practices of some middlemen. Similarly, in Kano State, authorities recently seized control of 10 warehouses found to be hoarding food items, signaling a broader, national issue.
President Tinubu has ordered the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department of State Service Yusuf Bichi to work closely with state governors to confront those responsible for hoarding foodstuffs. The move is aimed at ensuring the availability of food and controlling price hikes that have placed a significant burden on Nigerian citizens.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, conveyed the President’s mandate, emphasizing the urgency of bringing hoarded commodities to market to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and stabilize prices. “At this point that the nation requires food to be brought out to the people so that we can control prices and put food on the table of most Nigerians, commodity sellers are busy hoarding these commodities so that Nigerians will suffer or they will make more money as a result,” Idris stated.
The government’s stance against importing food to mitigate the crisis was also clarified, with Idris highlighting Nigeria’s capacity to sustain itself and potentially become a net exporter of food. The decision reflects a commitment to not only address the immediate food scarcity but also to sustain and advance the country’s progress in food production.
Idris reassured the public, describing the current situation as a “temporary difficulty” that is expected to resolve in due course. The collaboration between national security agencies and state governors marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to ensure food security and affordability for all Nigerians.
The government’s proactive measures to combat food hoarding and resist the temptation to import food underline a strategic approach to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector and ensuring long-term food sustainability. The focus now turns to the effectiveness of these directives in alleviating the food crisis and supporting the well-being of Nigerian citizens amidst these challenging times.
