The Yobe government has issued a stern warning against the hoarding and bulk purchase of grains and other essential commodities to prevent artificial scarcity and price hikes within the state.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the Commissioner for Information, disclosed this at a press briefing after a state government’s emergency meeting to address the rising cost of living across the state on Saturday in Damaturu.
He said the meeting deliberated extensively on the prevailing cost of living crisis across the state and the country and came up with some measures.
He said the state government had liaised with security agencies to discourage bulk purchases from Yobe’s markets by people who take the grains outside the nation’s borders.
“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 purchases 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.
“The Yobe government will roll out concrete measures very soon to cushion the effects of the rising cost of foodstuffs and other essential commodities for people across the state,” he said.
Bego added that a board meeting of stakeholders would be similarly convened immediately in each local government area to further discuss the food security situation in the respective local government councils and generate workable ideas to address the challenges.
The Commissioner also said Governor Mai Mala Buni called on people across the state to continue to offer prayers and supplications for Almighty Allah’s intervention on the current challenges in the country.
