President Bola Tinubu has issued directives to key security agencies in Nigeria, including the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi.
Their mission is to collaborate with state governors and address the issue of hoarding food items, which has contributed to the escalating prices of commodities.
The move comes as Nigeria grapples with a surge in the cost of food items, attributed to factors such as the removal of fuel subsidies and security challenges.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the President’s decision after a meeting between Tinubu and state governors.
Idris emphasized that at a time when the nation needs an abundant supply of food to control prices and ensure food security, some commodity sellers are allegedly hoarding goods, causing suffering for the Nigerian people.
He said in response to the situation, the President has instructed security agencies to work in tandem with governors to put an end to these practices.
President Tinubu had previously ordered the release of grains to alleviate the rising cost of food items, and the Federal Government had contemplated importing food.
However, Idris stated that there would be no need for food importation, asserting that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself and even become a net exporter of food items.
He added that the government aims to address the temporary difficulties in the food supply chain, and Idris stressed that the nation should maintain its progress in food production.
From hoarding dollars to hoarding food. Are you not trying to use others as an excuse and scapegoat for your failures. Where were you when they were buying for storage? Forcing them to sell their storage now, the food crisis is going to be extremely bad by June and July.
You have forgotten your motto, let’s suffer and die now for a better future?You hoarded fuel by removing subsidy and everything escalated make life unbearable for masses. And now blaming that some people are hoarding food.
You are not providing fertilisers for the farmers and they buy at high rate but you want them to sell at cheap price and they can’t afford other necessities of life especially medication. You are thinking and working for the increment of the minimum wage without a thought for poor farmers. At least this high cost of foodstuffs is paying some of them.
Your government and policies from inception are the causes of every calamity Nigeria is facing today.