Hunger looms in Niger State as foodstuff prices skyrocket

Anxiety has gripped Niger State residents as prices of foodstuff have risen sharply in markets in the state. This followed mass purchase of farm produce by traders across the state.
Besides, the produce were said to be smuggled across the nation’s borders.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, on Thursday said the situation was complicated by last year’s floods which ravaged many of the local governments in the state.
He said though the prices of the commodities had risen in the markets, the government would purchase agricultural produce which would be stored ahead of the “hunger gap” period later in the year.
Matane said the state executive council, at its last meeting on Wednesday, approved N120m for the purchase of 940 metric tonnes of assorted grains, which included millet, rice, sorghum and cow pea.
He added that between 2008 and 2011, the government committed over N768.1m to the purchase of 9500 metric tonnes of assorted grains, saying in 2012, 671metric tonnes of grains were bought at N74.2m.