50 trucks conveying foodstuffs out of Nigeria to Niger Republic were intercepted on Monday, February 19 by the Zamfara State Transport Agency.
The agency, grounded the trucks loaded with assorted grains in line with a presidential directive to reduce the food crisis in the nation.
President Bola Tinubu had on Thursday ordered 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, to collaborate with state Governors and go after those hoarding foodstuffs to resolve the current food crisis triggered by the increase in transportation, after the fuel subsidy removal and also the inability of farmers to harvest their crops because of bandits and kidnappers.
Confirming the interception of the 50 trucks in Zamfara, after the vehicles were stopped at Gidan Jaja village, close to the Nigerian borders with Niger Republic, the spokesman for ZARTO, Sale Shinkafi, alleged that the trucks were attempting to smuggle the food items to the Niger Republic.
He said, “Our men intercepted 50 vehicles loaded with assorted grains while trying to smuggle them out of the country. We directed the owners to go back and sell the commodities to Nigerians at the appropriate prices.”
Shinkafi said that the trucks were not detained but were only directed to return to their respective localities and sell the foodstuffs at affordable prices.
He said, “You know that our main concern is to make sure that the food items are not smuggled out of the country. We only refused to allow them to get into Niger Republic.”
On Sunday, the Nigeria Customs Service said it stopped 15 trailers conveying foodstuff through the Sokoto borders to Niger Republic.
Also, the Kano State Government sealed 10 warehouses said to be hoarding food items.
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