Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has clamped down on grain hoarders in the Northeast region and exporters to Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
According to him, the incessant hoarding and export of grains from the state led to rising prices of essential commodities, including sugar, potatoes, and cooking oil.
The Yobe government’s decision was reached, yesterday, during an emergency meeting on the rising food prices, at the Government House, Damaturu.
Buni, in a communiqué signed by the Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Bego, stated: “To stem the tide of food scarcity and the high cost of grains and other food items, bulk purchases of grains from Yobe markets must be stopped.”
He attributed the rising prices of commodities, particularly food items, to the hoarding and export of essential grains, including rice, millet, and sorghum to neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
According to him, the state government has liaised with security agencies to discourage such unpatriotic practices that fuel inflation and high costs of living.
The communiqué continued: “The bulk purchase of grains from the state’s markets will be closely monitored by security agencies to prevent hoarding of grains and other essential commodities.”
The governor noted that the measures would prevent artificial scarcity and food insecurity in the state and the country at large.
Besides monitoring of grains export, Buni said: “We will roll out concrete measures to cushion the effect of the rising cost of food and other essential commodities for people in the state.
“A stakeholders’ meeting will also be convened immediately in each the 17 local councils. This will enable government and stakeholders discuss the food security situation in the state.”
He added that at the end of the meeting, a workable idea would be generated to address the challenges of rising cost of living and food insecurity.
Buni, therefore, urged the people to continue praying God’s intervention in overcoming the ongoing challenges in the country.
