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The federal government has uncovered 32 routes used to smuggle food out of Nigeria.
This is just as it accused politicians who lost out during the last general elections of 2023 of working to plunge the country into a state of anarchy.
Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed these on Tuesday at the opening session of the Public Wealth Management Conference today in Abuja.
The conference which was declared open by Shettima had in attendance the Minister of Finance Wale Edun, the Chairman of the MOFI Board Dr Shamsudeen Usman, a former Finance Minister Dr Olusegun Aganga, Chairman of Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu and other top officials in the public and private sectors of the economy.
The federal government is currently battling to provide more food for the citizens who have been hit by skyrocketing prices since the removal of petroleum subsidy.
Nigeria’s inflation rate has risen to a record 29.90 per cent in January, principally driven by the high cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.
In December 2023, inflation was estimated by the bureau to be at 28.92 per cent.
Speaking at a conference, the VP also disclosed that 45 trucks loaded with maize were intercepted while making their way to neighbouring countries at midnight on Sunday.
Shettima stated, “Just three nights ago, 45 trucks of maize were caught being transported to neighbouring countries. Just in that Ilela axis, there are 32 illegal smuggling routes. And the moment those foodstuff were intercepted, the price of maize came down by N10,000. It came down from N60,000 to N50,000.
“So, there are forces that are hell-bent on undermining our nation, but this is the time for us to coalesce into a singular entity.”
The vice president affirmed that Nigeria is passing through turbulent times but is confident that the citizens will not have to endure harsh times forever.
He warned against those who are using the present economic difficulties to fan the embers of division, saying: “We have to make this country work. We have to move beyond politics. We are now in the face of governance.
“Sadly, some of our countrymen are still in the political mode. They are the practitioners of violence, advocating that Nigeria should go the Lebanon way. But, Nigeria is greater than anyone of us here. Nigeria will weather the storm.
“Forces are hell-bent on plunging this country into a state of anarchy. Those who could not get to power through the ballot box, instead for them to wait till 2027, are so desperate.”
