Following the closure of all Niger Republic’s land borders after penultimate Wednesday’s coup in the West African nation, the Katsina State Government, has observed that some rice traders and retailers in the state are hoarding the commodity to create artificial scarcity, so as to unnecessarily skyrocket the price for their selfish gain.
Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Spokesperson to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, disclosed this in a statement.
Part of Kaula Mohammed’s statement reads: “This is very unfortunate at a time when the Katsina State Government is seriously concerned about the rising cost of living and is sparing no effort to cushion the effects of rising cost of living, which includes but not limited to procuring and distribution for free 39,100 bags of grains, which will be distributed by special committees constituted by the government at ward levels for the benefits of the poor citizens of the state.
“It is instructive to note, then, that the Katsina State Government will not fold its hands to watch a few greedy and conscienceless elements sabotage its efforts to make life bearable to the teeming citizens of the state while destabilising and overheating the state unnecessarily. Measures are taken to prevent this from happening.
“This is to alert the public that a special surveillance arrangement involving different security agencies has been activated by the Katsina State Government to identify such economic saboteurs for necessary actions.
“This is also a plea to members of the public to provide relevant authorities with reliable information that could help identify such economic saboteurs to assist the government in checkmating this inimical tendency, which, without saying, is in total conflict with the Katsina State Government’s agenda to bring succour and relief to the entire citizens of the state.
“May Allah SWT touch the hearts of the perpetrators to join hands with the government in its efforts to make life bearable for the citizens of the state.”
