The Federal Government says it has uncovered 32 routes through which food items are smuggled out of Nigeria.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, announced on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, while speaking at a Public Wealth Management conference in Abuja.
Vice President Shettima stated that at midnight on Sunday, 45 trucks loaded with maize were intercepted on their route to neighbouring nations.
What the vice president is saying Shettima said, “Just three nights ago, 45 trucks of maize were caught being transported to neighbouring countries. Just in that Ilela axis, there are 32 illegal smuggling routes. And the moment those food stuffs were intercepted, the price of maize came down by N10,000. It came down from N60,000 to N50,000.
“So, there are forces that are hell-bent on undermining our nation but this is the time for us to coalesce into a singular entity.’’
The vice president admitted that Nigeria is going through a difficult time but assured the country’s people that the pain will not continue forever. He did, however, denounce the situation in which certain people are fanning the flames of divisiveness and violence as a result of the current circumstances.
He said, “We have to make this country work. We need to move beyond politics. We are now in the face of governance. Sadly, some of our countrymen are still in the political mode. They are the practitioners of violence, advocating that Nigeria should go the Lebanon way. But, Nigeria is greater than anyone of us here. Nigeria will weather the storm.
“Forces are hell-bent on plunging this country into a state of anarchy. Those who could not get to power through the ballot box, instead for them to wait till 2027, are so desperate.’’
Food smuggling and hoarding are major concerns. There has been reports of hoarding of food as well as smuggling of these items to neighbouring countries, a development that has become a source of major concern and contributing to the food crisis in the country.
According to reports, the Zamfara State Transport Agency captured 50 trucks transporting food from the country to the Niger Republic in response to a recent presidential decision aimed at resolving the food crisis and stockpiling.
Last Thursday, President Bola Tinubu directed the trio of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Director-General of the Department of State Services Yusuf Bichi to work with state governors to pursue those hoarding food.
On Sunday, the Nigeria Customs Service detained 15 trailers transporting food from Sokoto to the Niger Republic. The Kano State Government also raided 10 warehouses suspected of hoarding food.
