Business
Bago Bans Large Purchases Of Food Items In Niger
warning that violators would be prosecuted
The Niger State Government has attributed the recent protest in the State to hoodlums who blocked a major road to loot food items from trucks coming from the Southern part of the country.
Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the incident at the Government House, Minna.
He said that after a series of security meetings with relevant stakeholders in Minna, it was realized that the protesters have a network through which they communicated to others on sighting trucks of food items.
The Farmer Governor who said that the current hardship is not peculiar to the State alone, also attributed the hike in the prices of foodstuffs to speculators that mopped up food items from villages.
He then issued an executive order, banning people from making large purchases of food items in trucks, warning that violators would be prosecuted and his truck confiscated while the food items would be distributed to the people.
The Farmer Governor said the Federal Government has been intimated about the incident and it is willing to step in.
According to him “I have called the Vice President and the National Security Adviser. They have shown interest in the matter.
“Security agents have made lots of arrests, more would be made and they would be prosecuted”.
He also said the government is in talks with relevant stakeholders on price stability, adding that leadership of the Transport Unions have been informed to be aware of the current happenings with a view to communicating with members on the better time to travel.
The Farmer Governor said the government will work closely with Local Government Chairmen and traditional Institutions and security agencies to avoid recurrence.
Credit: Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State – 5/2/2024.
