President Bola Tinubu has ordered the security agencies to work with governors of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to apprehend hoarders of foodstuff across Nigeria.
The president made the statement on Thursday when he met with state governors at the State House in Abuja for an emergency meeting on the ongoing food crisis in the country.
The outcome of the meeting was disclosed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
“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.
“So, the governors and Mr President have taken this decision that security agencies will collaborate with state governors to ensure this ends,” Idris told reporters.
On the Federal Government’s plan to import food to reduce the level of food scarcity, the minister said it would be unnecessary as Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself.
“A decision has also been taken that in the interest of our country, there would be no need for food importation at this time. Nigeria has the potential to feed itself and be a net exporter of food items to other countries,” he said.
“We do not also want to reverse some of the progress we have seen in terms of food production in this country. What we are seeing now is just a temporary difficulty that will soon go away,”