The Federal government has accused commodity traders and hoarders of contributing to food scarcity and rising prices by purchasing agricultural produce directly from farmers, stockpiling the goods in warehouses and releasing them for sale at inflated rates.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the allegation on Monday during a media briefing on the state of the nation.
Idris complained that the practice is disrupting the movement of food through the supply chain, making it harder for marketers and consumers to obtain commodities despite their availability in the country.
He recalled incidents in Kano State where security agencies had to force open warehouses after operators allegedly stored large quantities of food items and sealed the facilities.
“We had a situation in this country where some hoarders, you know, taking advantage of the situation, were buying off these commodities, putting them in warehouses, and even sealing the warehouses,” the minister said.
He added that such practices raise concerns about the conduct of traders who prioritise profits from scarcity over the need to ensure that essential food items remain accessible to Nigerians.
Idris maintained that tackling food insecurity requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, arguing that consumers should not be deprived of essential commodities because of restrictions created within the distribution chain.
He said the Tinubu administration had anticipated some of the challenges affecting food availability and had taken steps to improve access to government-held reserves.
According to him, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has been releasing stored commodities and distributing them through smaller silos to ensure supplies would be made available when needed.
The information minister said such interventions were intended to ease pressure on the food market, although he acknowledged the broader difficulties Nigerians are facing.
Addressing concerns over rising petrol prices, Idris said the increase is not limited to Nigeria, pointing to developments in the Middle East and their effects on international energy markets.
He argued that movements in global fuel prices have affected several countries and should be considered when assessing the situation in Nigeria.