Hoarded Food: Kano Begins Crackdown on Warehouses
The Kano Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has taken decisive action by confiscating warehouses stocked with hoarded commodities valued at hundreds of millions of naira in the state, Excel Magazine International reports.
Numerous warehouses in and around Dawanau International Grains Market, Singer Market, and Kwari Textiles Market were sealed by the commission on Sunday.
During the operation, owners of these warehouses were conspicuously absent, while those that were opened revealed a stockpile of commodities, including spaghetti, rice, pasta, sugar, and various other food items.
The owners of these warehouses have been served notices to appear before the anti-graft commission to face charges in court for their illegal hoarding activities, which have negatively impacted the populace.
Chairman of the commission, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, addressed the public, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to combatting the hoarding of essential commodities in the state.
Rimingado stated, “We have taken decisive steps to curb the immediate spike in prices of essential commodities. Within a week, the price of rice surged from N52,000 to N61,000. Our actions have had a significant impact.”
He continued, “Our ongoing efforts aim to stabilize prices and alleviate the burden on consumers. However, we encountered challenges during our inspections, including claims that the hoarded stocks belong to the World Food Programme, which raises concerns about diversion.”
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Rimingado emphasized, “The price of maize has doubled from N30,000 to N60,000. This 100 per cent increase is unacceptable. The seized warehouses contain a substantial value of hoarded commodities, and we will not tolerate such practices.”
The commission is taking immediate action, including arrests, to address the issue and has activated intelligence mechanisms to identify further instances of hoarding.
