Nigeria accuses middlemen of food hoarding to inflate prices

The Nigerian federal government has accused commodity middlemen and hoarders of creating artificial food scarcity. According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, these actors are purchasing produce directly from farmers and storing it in sealed warehouses to sell later at exorbitant prices.

Idris noted that in some instances, such as in Kano, security agencies had to intervene and force open warehouses that had been sealed by operators. He emphasized that these practices undermine government efforts to ensure food availability and affordability.

To combat these challenges, the Minister stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been releasing reserves and utilizing smaller silos to manage commodity distribution. Regarding rising petrol prices, Idris attributed the trend to international energy market fluctuations, specifically citing developments in the Middle East.