Umar Bago, governor of Niger State, has clarified misconceptions concerning the state’s stance on mass buy of meals gadgets from the state to different states within the nation.
Bago instructed reporters on Monday that he solely stopped bulk purchases of meals from native markets to neighboring nations.
The governor lately stopped the majority buy of meals from native markets within the state.
Nevertheless, some experiences claimed that Bago banned the sale and buy of meals in bulk from Niger State to different Nigerian states.
The governor stated meals gadgets bought in Niger State markets should not stopped from being moved to different states within the nation.
He stated the choice was to control the extent of gross sales and make sure the individuals are not exploited by smugglers.
“We’ve markets within the native authorities headquarters, we’ve got native markets within the bushes, now these aggregators or what do you name them — saboteurs and even smugglers go to those villages,” the governor stated.
“For a farmer to provide you a bag of paddy, it might take him two three days as a result of it’s guide. Think about arresting 2 hundred vehicles of paddy crossing the Benin Republic from Niger State, you may think about what it does to the market.
“Our factories listed below are starved, individuals take our paddies to Benin Republic, mill it, convey it again and exploit our individuals.,”
He highlighted the challenges confronted by native farmers, together with exploitation by middlemen and smugglers who divert agricultural produce to worldwide markets.
Bago burdened the necessity to defend native industries and making certain honest market costs for farmers.
“So, what we did is to say, okay, let’s management the extent of gross sales, we all know how a lot you want as a farmer, you don’t have to promote every part in a single day. Why is anyone luring you with extra money, not minding the value?”
He additional emphasised the detrimental results of unchecked meals exportation on the native financial system, stating that Niger State’s factories had been struggling because of the exploitation of agricultural assets.
“A bag that we promote for N40,000 anyone is providing you with N100,000, , clearly there’s an issue there and so it has helped lower down the costs, placing inventory motion of meals from Niger to any state inside Nigeria, native gross sales are occurring throughout the nation, however we’ve got blocked all of the borders the place they export these items to.”
Bago stated the ban is addressing the meals inflation within the state.
“It’s yielding outcomes and we have to intensify as a rustic, there’s the African Free Commerce Settlement, however it has a restrict. You possibly can pack all of your meals within the identify of in search of cash,” he stated.
Bago reiterated the state’s dedication to supporting native farmers and making certain meals safety throughout the nation.
He emphasised the necessity for collaborative efforts to handle challenges within the agricultural sector and promote sustainable improvement.
