The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intercepted 21 food trucks heading to Chad, Cameroon, and other neighbouring countries.
The food items were seized by the EFCC Maiduguri Zonal Command, as disclosed in the commission’s X handle on Tuesday.
The statement said; “The trucks were intercepted in a sting operation at major exit routes along Kalabiri/Gamboru Ngala and Bama roads, Borno State.”
“Investigation showed food items cleverly concealed in the trucks that would have gone undetected but for the eagle-eyed vigilance of operatives of the Commission.
“Further checks showed that the Waybills covering the goods carried by trucks indicated their destinations as N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central Africa Republic, and Cameroon respectively.
The commission stated that the arrest of the trucks is expected to stem the tide of food insecurity occasioned by unscrupulous antics of smugglers across the country.
Noting that the arrested suspects are being profiled, the agency vowed to charge them to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The seizure is coming on the heels of the rising cost of food items in Nigeria. With inflation reaching 29.90 percent, the cost of living has reached the rooftops, prompting pockets of protests in several parts of the country.
Some warehouses and food trucks have also been hijacked. However, the Federal Government has rolled out measures to cushion the impacts of the high cost of living and will begin the distribution of grains nationwide later in the week.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government has consistently called for patience for his government’s reforms including the floating of the naira and the declaration of an end to the subsidy regime to take root. He insists there is no backing down on them.
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the current administration in Nigeria might consider engaging with the government of Zimbabwe to address the current unprecedented level of inflation in the country.
The former military leader and a two-time President, spoke on Monday at a youth leadership symposium as part of activities lined up for his 87th birthday, said Nigeria had Zimbabwe to learn from
Obasanjo noted that given Zimbabwe’s recent success in overcoming a similar challenge, it could offer valuable guidance to the West African giants.
Obasanjo charged Nigerians to remain strong in the face of the current situation of things, adding that the tough must get going when the time is rough and tough.
He also advised that citizens take the situation to God, maintaining that the economic hardship and hunger will not be permanent.
“Committing suicide is not the end of any problem, confront it and take it to God because he could do anything.
“Zimbabwe had this problem recently. Shouldn’t we ask them how they did it even if our approach will be different?
“Even if whatever we shall be doing will be different, we can ask questions to navigate our way out,” he added.
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