The organized private sector has voiced alarm over the escalating trend of looting targeting trucks transporting food and essential materials, cautioning that it poses a grave risk of industries shutting down nationwide.
Representatives of the private sector sounded the alarm on Monday, expressing concern over recent incidents of miscreants attacking trucks carrying building materials and food items in Ogun and Kaduna states.
In response to the crisis, the Federal Government announced plans to initiate the distribution of free grains to states this week.
Multiple trucks and warehouses, predominantly owned by manufacturers and other private sector entities, have fallen victim to attacks by hoodlums amidst worsening food inflation and the overall cost of living across the country.
Last week, incidents included the theft of food items from trucks stranded in traffic along the Kaduna Road in Niger State’s Suleja area.
On Sunday, a warehouse belonging to the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration was looted in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja, with rice, grains, and other relief items stolen.
Although security personnel managed to repel an attempted looting at a private warehouse in Abuja’s Idu Industrial Estate, concerns persist over the escalating criminality.
Gabriel Idahosa, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, warned that the ongoing economic hardship could breed anarchy, potentially leading to the closure of businesses.
He emphasized the urgent need for concrete measures to alleviate hunger and mitigate the worsening situation.
Similarly, Alhaji AbdulRahman Bioku, Chairman of the Kwara/Kogi Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, attributed the looting spree to widespread hunger and frustration among citizens, emphasizing the need for government intervention in providing transportation and raw materials to manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Alhaji AbdulRhaman Maku, Executive Secretary of the Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce, condemned the looting as criminal activity and called for decisive action by law enforcement agencies.
In response to the crisis, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for the FCT, denounced the looting of the FCT agric secretariat, stating that it was not merely a result of hunger but a criminal act.
She vowed to reinforce security around government-owned warehouses to prevent future incidents.
Addressing the food crisis, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced plans to distribute 42,000 metric tonnes of grains across all 36 states, with an additional release of 58,500 metric tonnes of rice into the market.
Despite the challenges, Kyari assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis and restoring normalcy in due course.
