Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has addressed misconceptions surrounding the state’s policy on the purchase of food items destined for other states within Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Governor clarified that his directive only pertains to bulk purchases of food from local markets intended for neighboring countries. Food items bought within state markets remain freely transportable to other Nigerian states.
Governor Bago explained that the decision aims to regulate sales volume and protect local communities from exploitation by smugglers.
He elaborated: “We have markets in local government headquarters and rural areas. Aggregators, saboteurs, and even smugglers target these villages. A farmer might spend two to three days manually harvesting a single bag of paddy rice. Imagine stopping 200 trucks filled with paddy rice illegally crossing from Niger State to Benin Republic.
This has a significant impact on our local market. Our factories are struggling because paddy rice is taken to Benin, processed there, and then brought back to exploit our people.”
He highlighted the challenges faced by local farmers, including exploitation by middlemen and smugglers who divert agricultural produce to international markets. He emphasized the importance of protecting local industries and ensuring fair market prices for farmers.
“Our goal is to control the level of sales. We understand your needs as farmers; you don’t need to sell everything at once. Why would someone offer you exorbitant amounts of money without considering the market price?” he questioned.
Governor Bago further emphasized the negative consequences of unchecked food exportation on the local economy, highlighting the suffering of Niger State’s factories due to the depletion of valuable agricultural resources.
“A bag of something we sell for N40,000, someone elsewhere is offering N100,000. This clearly indicates a problem. This initiative is addressing food inflation within the state,” he stated.
He affirmed the government’s dedication to addressing challenges and striving for a more secure and prosperous future for all citizens.