Nigerian Authorities recently Impounded 21 trucks loaded with essential food supplies destined for Chad, Central African Republic, and Cameroon.
This action was taken in response to a shortage of staple food items, exacerbated by smuggling activities, leading to protests across various states.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered the hidden food amidst household commodities in the northeastern Borno state.
“The arrest of the trucks is expected to stem the tide of food insecurity occasioned by unscrupulous antics of smugglers across the country,” the EFCC said in a statement.
The Nigerian government is set to distribute 42,000 tonnes of grain nationwide in an effort to pacify public frustration over soaring food prices.
The food crisis, partially attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s termination of a fuel subsidy in May last year, has been compounded by the recent devaluation of the local currency, the naira, leading to a surge in food costs.
To address this, the African Development Bank has allocated $134 million to Nigeria, aiming to bolster food production, especially after its cautionary note in February regarding the potential for social unrest due to a cost-of-living crisis.
