By Mohammed Bello Doka
Zamfara State Transport Agency (ZARTO) took decisive action on Monday by intercepting fifty trucks loaded with various grains destined for the Niger Republic. The move follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu to address food shortages and prevent hoarding.
Last Thursday, President Tinubu instructed key security officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Director-General of the Department of State Services Yusuf Bichi, to collaborate with state governors in tackling the issue of food hoarding.
The interception occurred at Gidan Jaja village near the Nigerian border with Niger Republic, as confirmed by Shehu Sani, a resident of Zurmi town in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara state.
Sale Shinkafi, the spokesperson for ZARTO, clarified that the trucks were attempting to smuggle the food items out of the country. He stated, "Our men intercepted 50 vehicles loaded with assorted grains while trying to smuggle them out of the country. We directed the owners to go back and sell the commodities to Nigerians at the appropriate prices."
Shinkafi emphasized ZARTO's commitment to ensuring that food items are not smuggled out of the country, indicating that the agency refused to allow the goods to enter Niger Republic. Despite not being accompanied by agency officials, the truck owners were instructed to return to their local areas and sell the goods at reasonable prices, in line with the government's efforts to address food shortages domestically.
The intercepted trucks were found to contain staple grains such as rice, maize, and millet, essential for domestic consumption. With food scarcity concerns looming in Nigeria, authorities are cracking down on attempts to smuggle essential commodities out of the country, ensuring that they remain available to the Nigerian populace at affordable rates.
This incident highlights the challenges faced in maintaining food security amid regional shortages and cross-border smuggling. Authorities remain vigilant in enforcing regulations to safeguard the nation's food supply and prevent exploitation of scarce resources for profit at the expense of the citizenry.
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