Concerned with the prevailing rise in the prices of grains and other essential commodities across the state and the country, Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni has presided over an emergency meeting on food security in the state.
The meeting expressed deep concern over the hoarding of grains and other essential commodities, creating artificial scarcity with more hardships to the people.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting stated that the state government has taken measures to check bulk purchases from the markets in the state.
It said Yobe state government is liaising with security agencies to check the activities of unpatriotic smugglers mopping up grains in the markets.
“The State Government has also taken measures to stop the hoarding of grains and other essential commodities by businessmen and middlemen.
“To this end, bulk purchase of grains from Yobe’s markets will be closely monitored by security agencies to prevent and stop hoarding.
“The purchase and transportation of large quantities of grains outside the state will be similarly monitored to ensure that speculators and hoarders do not take advantage of Yobe’s markets to cause artificial scarcity and deepen food insecurity in the country”, it said.
The communique further stated that Yobe state government is liaising with security agencies to check the activities of unpatriotic smugglers mopping up grains in the markets.
It also stated that the government would soon roll out concrete measures to cushion the effects of the rising cost of foodstuff and other commodities.
The communique directed for a similar stakeholders meeting in the 17 local government councils to ensure implementation of the decisions taken by the state government.
By El Shaddai
