TheCable

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the federal government has uncovered 32 routes used to smuggle food to neighbouring countries. 

Addressing a conference on public wealth management in Abuja on Tuesday, Shettima said the routes were found in Illela LGA, Sokoto state.

ChannelsTV reports the vice-president as saying that security operatives intercepted 45 trucks loaded with maize, which were being smuggled to neighbouring countries, on the midnight of Sunday.

“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,” he said.

Shettima said the interception caused the price of maize to dip by N10,000.

“It came down from N60,000 to N50,000,” he said.

“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.

“We have to make this country work. We have to move beyond politics. We are now in the phase 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 of them to wait till 2027, are so desperate.”

The federal government has repeatedly blamed hoarding and smuggling for the persistent food inflation in the country.

Last week, Mohammed Idris, minister of information, said President Bola Tinubu had ordered security agencies to work with governors to nab hoarders.