The Nigerian Customs Service attributes the ongoing hardship faced by Nigerians amidst economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to illicit exportation by unpatriotic citizens.
Emphasizing the need for collaboration among stakeholders to address the severe food crisis, the service expressed these concerns.
During a visit to the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Mustapha in Yola, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, conveyed this message.
Adeniyi, represented by Joseph Adelaja, the acting Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’, highlighted the necessity for joint efforts in combating the activities of unscrupulous traders responsible for the current food insecurity.
Seeking collaboration, particularly seeking information on hoarders’ activities, was the purpose of their visit to the palace.
He said, “Because of the current economic reforms going on in the country, we are confronted with food insecurity. This food insecurity is occasioned by the illicit exportation of essential commodities.
“We are urging all to support us in this fight with the necessary information to tackle the menace of hoarding we have faced which has caused a hike in the potential prices of essential food commodities.
Food security is the business of every Nigerian. Prices today have gone up extra-ordinarily like we have never had before because unpatriotic individuals are exporting foods that are meant for Nigerians.”
Adelaja, along with other senior customs officers, expressed strong disapproval of the actions of unpatriotic businessmen.
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He said, “People are hungry and you are exporting food out of the country to feed other nations.
This is not in the best interest of the country and we must all join hands to tackle the menace headlong.”
During his speech, Mustapha Aminu, representing the Lamido, emphasized the indispensable role of customs in ensuring national food security and sustenance, as stated by the Galadima of Adamawa.
He urged the customs to maintain its steadfast commitment to its economic and security roles, while assuring the Emirate’s support in achieving its goal of addressing the current economic food crisis.
According to Sunday PUNCH, amidst the rapid depreciation of the naira against the United States dollar, traders specializing in grains have found it advantageous to sell their products to neighboring countries for higher profits. Many traders, interviewed by our correspondents, expressed a preference for selling to these countries due to their stronger currencies compared to the naira.
Several experts have warned that this trend could lead to hoarding and artificial scarcity of grains, potentially exacerbating the upward trend in prices and deepening the ongoing food crisis. This concerning situation arises at a time when the nation is grappling with severe hunger, marked by a staggering over 300 percent increase in staple prices.
Moreover, Nigeria is experiencing its highest inflation rate in 28 years, with the food inflation rate reaching 35.41 percent in January. Official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal that Nigeria’s annual inflation rate climbed to 29.90 percent in the same month, up from 28.92 percent in December 2023.
For instance, the price of a bag of long-grain rice has soared to nearly N80,000, compared to N45,000 in December 2023. Similarly, the cost of a crate of eggs has skyrocketed to nearly N5,000, up from N2,700 in December.
Numerous other food items have also witnessed significant price hikes due to various market factors, prominently including the drastic depreciation of the naira.
