The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said the major factor affecting food availability in Nigeria, is the smuggling of food out of Nigeria to neighbouring countries.
Kyari stated this on Tuesday, March 5 while addressing members of the House of Representatives during the sectoral debate on agriculture and food security.
According to him, “We have seen smuggling of foodstuffs to other neighbouring countries. This has affected the availability of food items in the country,” the minister said.
Also speaking at the debate, the Comptroller General of Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, also said that the Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the sale of seized food items to vulnerable Nigerians.
He said, “Mr President has directed that we sell directly to needy Nigerians food items produced locally but which were seized. This is one of the ways to address hunger and food scarcity we are facing. We have started this in Lagos.
“Also, the president has also directed that imported food items seized by the Nigeria Customs Service should be sold back to the local markets for resale to Nigerians.
