TheCable

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says governor across the 36 states of the federation will work with security agencies to stop food hoarding.

Idris spoke on Thursday citing a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

In its latest consumer price index (CPI) report for January, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said food inflation surged to 35.4 percent in the month under review.

According to the NBS, the rise in food inflation was caused by increased prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, meat, and fruit.

Last week, Tinubu directed the immediate release of 42,000 metric tons of assorted food items from both the strategic reserves and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria as a short-term response to the rising food shortage in the country.

Idris said the government had proposed to embark on importation of whatever shortfalls that may be experienced after the release of the food commodities.

He added that the government would sanction food hoarders, noting that “emergency situations require emergency measures to ensure food is available to Nigerians”.

The minister said the president has directed Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), Yusuf Bichi, director general of the state security service, and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), to work with governors to immediately check the activities of those hoarding food items with the intention to smuggle them out or make extra profits from the resulting scarcity.

Idris said the collaboration would end the hoarding of food commodities in the country.

The minister also clarified that, in contrast to the federal government’s previous stance, no food commodities would be imported.

He said the presidency held a meeting with state governors to increase the number and activities of forest rangers towards improving the security of farmers and to deepen investments in food production.

Idris added that for the nation to achieve its targets of being self-sufficient and a net exporter, the government hopes to maintain the progress already made in local food production and youth employment.