On Monday, February 19, 50 trucks carrying food to the Niger Republic were stopped by the Zamfara State Transport Agency.
To halt the country’s food crisis, the agency grounded the trucks carrying a variety of grains in accordance with a mandate from the president.
Keep in mind that President Bola Tinubu gave the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services Yusuf Bichi orders last Thursday to work with state governors to pursue those who are stockpiling food in order to address the current food crisis. This crisis was brought on by increases in transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies, as well as farmers’ inability to harvest their crops due to rebels and kidnappers.
Sale Shinkafi, the ZARTO spokesman, confirmed that the 50 trucks were intercepted in Zamfara. The trucks were detained near the Nigerian borders with Niger Republic at Gidan Jaja village. It was claimed that the trucks were trying to smuggle food goods into the Niger Republic.
“Our men stopped 50 vehicles that were trying to smuggle assorted grains out of the country,” he claimed. We gave the proprietors instructions to return and resell the goods to Nigerians at the right pricing.
Shinkafi clarified that the trucks were just instructed to return to their individual communities and resell the goods at reasonable prices—rather than being escorted by agency representatives.
“As you are aware, our primary concern is ensuring that the food items are not being smuggled out of the country,” he stated. All we did was deny them entry into the Niger Republic.
The Nigeria Customs Service reported on Sunday that it had halted fifteen trailers carrying food to the Niger Republic via the Sokoto borders.
The Kano State Government also closed ten warehouses that were allegedly stockpiling food.