Niger State Governor Bans Bulk Purchase of Foodstuffs in Niger by Traders from Other States

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has issued a directive prohibiting traders from neighboring states from making bulk purchases of food in local markets across the state. The governor’s decision came in response to a massive protest in the state capital, Minna, against the escalating inflation and economic challenges in Nigeria.

In a video shared by AIT News on X (formerly Twitter) and viewed by West Africa Weekly, Governor Bago attributed the protest to misinformation suggesting that the government intended to withhold food aid despite widespread hunger.

He said, “On your way en route Lagos to Abuja, a lot of trucks going to the north will pass through either Minna or Lambata, through Sarki Pawa to cut short the high cost of fuel.

“These people had gone to inform the people (masses) of food coming in for keeps by the government. So they intimated these people (masses) that there was food, truckloads of food coming to Minna. And it is going to go straight to some stores for sharing to you and that agitated the power.

“Trucks who come to park or buy foodstuff from our villagers in bulk should be halted for now. We have stopped mass purchase from our local markets, in all our local government from now until further notice. Anybody found doing that, we have given security agencies to go ahead to confiscate those trucks and share the foods to the people.”

Meanwhile, footage from the protest depicted demonstrators blocking main roads, expressing frustration over the lack of government intervention to address the rising prices of basic food items, while law enforcement officers observed the scene.

Read more: ‘Nigeria Has Only 14 Radiotherapy Centres, No Functional Gamma Camera’ – Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority

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