A former Senator, who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sheu Sani, has alleged that the current hike in foodstuff prices may not intentionally manipulated.
Recall that due to the growing price hike due to scarcity, President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to arrest hoarders of foodstuff causing inflation.
“First, the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police; and Director General of the State Services have been directed to coordinate with the state governors to look at this issue of those hoarding commodities,” he said after the meeting.
“At this point that the nation requires food to be brought out to the people so that we can control prices and put food on the table of most Nigerians, commodity sellers are busy hoarding these commodities so that Nigerians will suffer or they will make more money as a result,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said on Thursday.
The Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, had also ordered a one-day statewide fast on Monday to address the skyrocketing food prices and insecurity.
In a post on his verified X (formerly known as Twitter) , Senator Sani said some ‘unscrupulous individuals’ may be responsible as food prices were dropping in some states.
“The fact that food prices are coming down in some states as reported in the papers shows that the prices are artificially and deliberately manipulated by some unscrupulous individuals hiding behind the inflation.” Sani tweeted.
Food prices have reportedly dropped in some states in the country, including Kano, Taraba, Niger, and Kwara.
According to reports from Kano State, prices for rice, beans, soy beans, and maize have decreased marketplaces in Doguwa, Tudun Wada, and Bunkure, among other places on Tuesday.
A grain merchant, Hudu Faruk, ascribed the price decrease to the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission closing up warehouses they suspected of hoarding wheat.
“They have asked us to halt the purchase of commodities and many merchants are apprehensive on the matter hence, they quit buying last week. Perhaps, this is the main reason behind the drop in price,” he said.