The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission announced on Tuesday that they had reopened 10 warehouses that were previously sealed for hoarding food.
The chairman of the commission, Muhyi Magaji, explained in an interview with The PUNCH that the warehouse owners had appeared and were instructed to open up and sell their goods to the public. Magaji mentioned that, as a result, Kano was already seeing a decrease in food prices.
He said, “The action taken by the commission has forced the dealers to bring the commodities to markets as well as reduce their prices.
“We visited a number of markets, including Dawanau International Grains Market, Singer Market and Kwari Market, among others.
“If you go to Shuwari market in Jigawa and Faskari and other markets in the neighboring states, you will see that the prices of grains have reduced compared to before.
“If you recall, during the operation, the owners of such warehouses were nowhere to be found but those opened were stacked full of commodities, including spaghetti, rice, sugar and other food items.
“The owners were issued a notice to report to the commission preparatory to facing charges before the court of law for their illegal activities.”
Muhuyi stated that the operation had a significant effect in controlling the rising prices of grains and other important goods in the state.
He refuted the assertion made by the Management of Dawanau International Grains Market that they were not stockpiling food to cause a shortage on purpose.
Grain dealers at the Dawanau International Grains Market have recently lowered their prices after the state anti-graft agency threatened to prosecute dealers who were hoarding grains to make more money.
As a result, the price of maize has dropped from N60,000 to N53,000 per bag, while guinea corn now sells for N49,000 instead of N55,000.
The price of millet has also decreased from N60,000 to N53,000 per bag, and beans now cost between N85,000 and N90,000, down from the previous price of N95,000 to N100,000, depending on quality.
Additionally, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano Area Command, reported that they seized four trucks loaded with food items as part of their efforts to combat smuggling.
The service’s spokesman, Saidu Nuradeen, announced on Tuesday in Kano that the NCS personnel had apprehended vehicles carrying a large amount of food items meant for illegal export along the Hadejia-Taura-Ringim axis in Jigawa State.
The items seized included 1,505 cartons of dried fish, 17 bags of local rice, and two bags of beans.
Nuradeen stated that this seizure highlights Customs‘ ongoing commitment to enforcing the border closure policy to protect the nation’s economy and ensure food security.
“Smuggling undermines legitimate trade channels, poses risks to public health and deprives the government of much-needed revenue.
“The NCS reiterates its unwavering commitment to combatting smuggling activities across all entry points into the country,” he said.
