The Yobe State Government says it has taken measures to stop the hoarding of grains and other essential commodities by businessmen and middlemen in the state.
This is with a view to stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains and other food items resulting from the practice.
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego disclosed this on Saturday while reading a five-point communique to newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting summoned by Governor Mala Buni on the prevailing cost of living across the state and the country.
He said government in the state has noted with concern the practice of hoarding grains and other essential commodities in the state with a view to creating artificial scarcity.
“To stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains and other food items resulting from bulk purchase from Yobe’s markets by people who take those grains outside our nation’s borders, the State Government has liaised with security agencies to discourage practices,” Bego said.
According to him the purchase and transportation of large quantities of grains outside the state will be closely 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.
“The Yobe State Government will roll out concrete measures very soon to cushion the effects of the rising cost of foodstuff and other essential commodities for people across the state,” he assured.
The State Home Affairs, Information and Culture Commissioner also disclosed that a broad meeting of stakeholders will be convened immediately in each local government area to further discuss the food security situation in the 17 local government councils in order to generate workable ideas for how to address the challenges.
“His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni calls on people across the state to continue to offer prayers and supplications for Almighty Allah’s intervention on the current challenges in the country,” he said.
