Umar Bago Clarifies Food Purchase Ban Misconception

• Bago said he only stopped bulk purchases of food from local markets to neighbouring countries. 
• The governor said there was a need for collaborative efforts to address challenges in the agricultural sector and promote sustainable development.  

Umar Bago, governor of Niger state says it has addressed misconceptions surrounding its stance on the mass purchase of food items from the state to other states within the country.

Bago told newsmen on Monday that he only stopped bulk purchases of food from local markets to neighboring countries.

He said that food items purchased in the state markets were not stopped from being taken to other states.

“We have markets in the local government headquarters; we have local markets in the bushes; now these aggregators, saboteurs, and even smugglers go to these villages'” he said.

“For a farmer to give you a bag of paddy, it may take him two to three days because it’s manual. Imagine arresting two hundred trucks of paddy crossing the Benin Republic from Niger state.

“You can imagine what it does to the market. Our factories here are starved; people take our paddies to the Benin Republic, mill it, bring it back, and exploit our people.”

“So, what we did was say, let’s control the level of sales. We know how much you need as a farmer; you don’t need to sell everything overnight.

“Why is somebody luring you with excess cash, not minding the price?

“A bag that we sell for N40,000, somebody is giving you N100,000; obviously, you know there’s a problem, so the ban is addressing the food inflation in the state.

Bago further stated that the decision is aimed to regulate sales and prevent smugglers from exploiting local farmers, highlighting the challenges they face in securing agricultural produce for international markets.

Bago emphasised the need to protect local industries and ensure fair market prices for farmers, noting the negative impact of unchecked food exportation on the local economy and the need for intensification.

He said there was a need for collaborative efforts to address challenges in the agricultural sector and promote sustainable development.

The governor recently stopped the bulk purchase of food from local markets.

Some reports, however, stated that Bago banned the mass sale and purchase of food items from Niger state to other states in the country.