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Food smuggling: FG intercepts 141 grain trucks, drivers threaten strike over attacks
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In continuation of measures to address the food inflation and cost of living crisis, the Federal Government Tuesday said it had so far intercepted 141 trucks attempting to smuggle grains and other staples to Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said that the service had within two weeks arrested about 120 trucks smuggling food items from Nigeria while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stopped 21 food trucks from leaving the country on Tuesday.
As the CG was disclosing the measures being enforced to ensure food security at the House of Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday, truck drivers, who have been targets of attacks by hoodlums, had threatened to declare a strike if the situation persisted.
Several trucks and warehouses, mostly owned by manufacturers and other members of the organised private sector have come under attack from hoodlums as the food inflation and the cost of living crisis in the country spiralled.
Last week, some youths stole food items from trucks stuck in traffic along the Kaduna Road in the Suleja area of Niger State.
On Sunday, hoodlums attacked a warehouse belonging to the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration located in the Dei-Dei area of the capital city where they looted rice, grains, and other relief items.
The miscreants in their numbers also stormed another warehouse in the Idu Industrial Estate, Jabi, Abuja, but were repelled by the troops guarding the facility.
Similarly, another set of youths attacked trucks conveying building materials and spaghetti in Ogun and Kaduna states on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Worried by the unsavoury development, the organised private sector warned the attacks could lead to a shutdown of industries across the country.
Briefing the federal lawmakers on the enforcement of the Presidential directive to curtail food smuggling during the sectoral debate series, the Customs CG, Adeniyi, said President Bola Tinubu had given a directive that the arrested trucks be diverted to the local markets in the area where they were arrested to force down the prices of grains and other food items.
“We arrested in two weeks about 120 trucks of food items going out of the country. These are the food items Mr President has asked us to give back to the local markets where the arrests were made. We believe this will drive down the price of food items in these places,” he added.
He stated that the decision to halt the smuggling of food items was to fight hunger and not encourage those who wanted to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
He warned against adopting quick-fix solutions to address the food scarcity in the country, adding that the country must put in place long-term measures to address the situation.
Adeniyi explained that the Customs were playing their part in ensuring that the problem of food security was addressed, adding that currently, most agriculture inputs attract zero duty and the value-added tax.
The CG noted that the need to learn from lessons learnt while auctioning seized food items in Lagos was the reason the service was ha to commence the program outside Lagos State.
About seven persons died in a stampede at the NCS Old Zonal Headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos State during the auction of bags of rice confiscated from smugglers by the NCS last month.
The incident forced the authorities to suspend the exercise.
Bringing the lawmakers up to speed on the public auction, Adeniyi said President Tinubu directed the NCS to auction to vulnerable Nigerians the food items intercepted at the Nigerian borders, noting that the implementation of the programme kicked off in Lagos, but was stopped.
Adeniyi further said the seized foodstuffs were to be sold to the local markets nationwide on the President’s orders.
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.”
Fielding questions from lawmakers during the session presided over by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, Adeniyi gave reasons why the auction of seized grains was temporarily discontinued by the NCS.
“We started in Lagos but you know what happened. There was a stampede. No matter the number of bags of rice you share or sell, it will not be enough.
“We have to focus on one place at a time. We will use the lessons we learnt in Lagos to coordinate this programme when we resume,” he said.
In their enforcement of the Presidential directive against food smuggling, operatives of the Maiduguri zonal command of the EFCC have arrested 21 trucks loaded with food and non-food items heading towards N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central African Republic, and Cameroon.
The Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Tuesday, that the trucks were intercepted in a sting operation at major exit routes along Kalabiri/Gamboru Ngala and Bama Roads, Borno State.
It said, “Investigation showed food items cleverly concealed in the trucks that would have gone undetected but for the eagle-eyed vigilance of operatives of the commission.
“Further checks showed that the waybills covering the goods carried by trucks indicated their destinations as N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central Africa Republic, and Cameroon, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on Tuesday said that food scarcity came too early this year, noting that “It often rears its head in May/June but it came quite early this time.’’
This was just as he blamed the food scarcity being experienced across the country on smuggling, flooding, the naira redesign policy and the COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged the world in 2019 and 2020.
Speaking at the sectoral debate series at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Kyari noted that the naira redesign policy implemented by the government of Muhammadu Buhari denied small-scale farmers access to cash to pay for their harvest towards the end of 2022 as well as pay for cultivation during the commencement of the wet season.
He asserted that the insecurity in the country culminated in low cultivation of land as many farmers were displaced from their communities.
To address the challenges being faced by farmers nationwide, Kyari assured Nigerians that President Tinubu had mandated the agric ministry to make grains available both for cultivation and consumption.
“We have engaged the World Food Programme to help stabilize prices. We also asked them to assist our farmers to produce more food.
“But we want our farmers to take advantage of irrigation facilities to do all-season farming and the President has been very supportive of this,” he said.
The minister noted that so far, “About 5,000 tractors are working in Nigeria,” adding that the nation needs “72,000 functional tractors to meet the growing needs of Nigerians.”
He added that the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a manufacturer to supply 2, 000 tractors annually for the next five years.
In a development that could compound the social and economic situation in the country, truck owners involved in the haulage of food and fuel have declared that they may stop transporting the commodities following the incessant attacks on their vehicles by hoodlums.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman, in an interview with The Press on Tuesday, said the truck drivers might withdraw their services if the attacks and looting of food trucks continued.
He called on the state governments to address the looting of trucks, adding that the looted food items were not insured by their owners.
In an interview with The Press on Tuesday, Othman said the recent attacks had severely impacted their operations negatively.
He stated, “We are affected negatively by these attacks and right now we are strategizing. It might interest you to know that the insurance we get does not cover riots or such fracas.
“So, we are appealing to the general public to avoid such attacks on our trucks. This is because if such kind of attacks continue, what will happen is that transporters will stop carrying food items and this will lead to food scarcity across the country.
“If you are transporting food and somebody stops you on the road and loot the food items, what will you do?”
The NARTO president expressed worries about the inadequate security on the roads, stating that the truck owners would stop operations if the attacks on truck drivers did not abate.
“We just have to stop transporting the food items, until something is done about it. Security has to be enforced. The various state governments need to act now to reduce the suffering of their citizens because this is not entirely a Federal Government issue.
“The state governments must be able to curb these concerns because it is usually the local people in states that attack our trucks and cart away food items in these trucks,” Othman stated.
On whether NARTO had commenced any form of discussion with state governments on the issue, Othman replied in the negative, stressing that some of these attackers also targeted fuel tanker drivers.
He, however, stated that the association had met with security agencies over the issue and again pleaded with the public to desist from attacking trucks transporting food and other products.
The transporter said, “As for state governments, we have not met with them because we don’t have direct access to interface with them, but are discussing with some security agencies how best to avoid this kind of incident. It is not good for everyone.
“It can threaten the distribution of food because if you load (goods) and somebody is going to stop you on the road to loot the goods, why will you continue to load? And mind you, it is not only trucks that are transporting food that they attacked.’’
Speaking further on the attacks on tanker drivers, Othman explained, “For the fuel that we load, sometimes when these trucks break down, you will see locals coming to open the tanks by force to scoop the fuel.
“If a fire breaks out during such an instance, people will attribute it to fallen trucks, not knowing that it was the locals who forced the tanks open to scoop fuel.’’
“So, it is high time people realised that as much as we appreciate the situation of the country, they must know that two wrongs can’t make a right. There is the need to address these things holistically so that we get a lasting solution,” he stated.
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and Sierra Leone have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing regional integration following the formal presentation of Letters of Credence by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ayo Luther Ogbomode, to President Julius Maada Bio in Freetown.
The presentation took place at the State House, where the Nigerian envoy conveyed the goodwill message of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reiterated Nigeria’s resolve to deepen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between both countries.
During the audience with President Bio, Ambassador Ogbomode extended President Tinubu’s warm greetings and best wishes to the Sierra Leonean leader.
She said, “Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood that have historically united our two countries.”
The High Commissioner also congratulated President Bio on assuming the Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, expressing confidence in his ability to steer the regional bloc towards greater unity and progress.
“Nigeria has every confidence in your leadership and believes that under your stewardship, ECOWAS will continue to advance regional integration, democratic governance, economic prosperity, peace and collective security across West Africa”, she stated.
Responding, President Bio thanked President Tinubu and the Nigerian government for their goodwill and continued support, while reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria.
“Sierra Leone remains strongly committed to deepening bilateral relations with Nigeria, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, education, security cooperation, capacity building and regional integration”, he said.
President Bio described the relationship between the two countries as one built on a rich shared history, common values and mutual respect.
“Nigeria and Sierra Leone enjoy an excellent and enduring relationship founded on a shared history, common values and mutual respect”, he added.
Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Bio pledged to work closely with Nigeria in promoting regional peace, economic development and integration.
According to him, “As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, I remain committed to working closely with Nigeria in advancing regional stability, economic development and the collective aspirations of the peoples of West Africa.”
The Sierra Leonean leader also paid tribute to Nigeria for its role during his country’s civil war, acknowledging the sacrifices made in restoring peace and stability.
“The people and Government of Sierra Leone continue to hold Nigeria in the highest regard and remain deeply appreciative of the solidarity, leadership and assistance rendered during a critical period in our national history”, he said.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of both countries to expanding cooperation, promoting regional peace and reinforcing the longstanding partnership that has defined relations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone over the years.
By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their long-standing strategic partnership, with both countries pledging closer cooperation in security, trade, investment and regional stability.
The commitment was made on Monday when the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, received the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
Welcoming the American delegation, Ambassador Enikanolaiye described the relationship between both countries as one of great importance to Nigeria, expressing optimism that the visit would further deepen bilateral cooperation across critical sectors.
He said, “Nigeria attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with the United States, and I am confident that this visit will deepen cooperation across key sectors and provide further impetus to the growing partnership between our two countries”.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding collaboration in trade and investment, maritime security, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional peace and security.
He also highlighted the progress achieved through the Nigeria–United States Joint Working Group and disclosed that preparations were underway for the next round of bilateral engagements scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., in August 2026.
Speaking on Nigeria’s security efforts, Enikanolaiye said the government remained committed to tackling insecurity through stronger law enforcement, effective prosecution of terrorism-related offences, better protection for vulnerable communities, and sustained efforts to secure both the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad Basin.
Addressing concerns over religious freedom, the minister stressed that Nigeria remained committed to protecting all citizens regardless of their faith or ethnic background.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to maintain constructive dialogue with the United States on migration and consular matters.
“While security challenges exist, they should not be misconstrued as a policy of religious persecution or genocide. The Government remains firmly committed to protecting all citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity and to strengthening the rule of law.”
In his remarks, Assistant Secretary Frank Garcia described Nigeria as one of the United States’ most important strategic partners on the African continent, noting that cooperation between both nations had continued to grow across several sectors.
“Nigeria remains one of America’s most important strategic partners in Africa. We are encouraged by the growing momentum in our cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, health, technology, maritime security and counter-terrorism, in line with the United States’ commitment to expanding commercial partnerships across the continent”, he said.
Garcia also praised Nigeria’s leadership in strengthening maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and acknowledged its contribution to regional peace through the Multinational Joint Task Force.
He further expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued collaboration on migration and security issues.
According to him, “The United States remains steadfast in supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its security institutions, promote regional stability and expand economic opportunities for its people.”
At the end of the meeting, both countries agreed to sustain regular high-level consultations, strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and deepen people-to-people exchanges.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to resolving outstanding issues through dialogue while further consolidating the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the United States.
By Gloria Ikibah
Members of the ECOWAS Parliament have identified the key drivers of irregular migration across The Gambia and the wider West African region, while proposing a broad range of measures aimed at addressing the growing challenge.
The findings were presented by the forth Deputy Speaker, Hon. Billay Tunkara at the end of a Parliamentary Citizens’ Engagement on the Dangers of Irregular Migration and Modern Slavery, held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 6 to 10 July 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the parliamentary mission, Tunkara said the engagement reflected the regional parliament’s commitment to ensuring that citizens’ concerns shape policy decisions across the ECOWAS region.
He said: “Such solutions requires listening to communities, empowering young people, supporting survivors and returnees, strengthening families and creating opportunities that enable young people to choose hope, dignity and prosperity at home, rather than the risk of irregular migration.”
According to the report, participants consistently pointed to unemployment, underemployment, poverty, limited access to education and vocational training, as well as inadequate economic opportunities, as the main factors pushing young people towards dangerous migration routes.
The findings stated: “Many young people expressed the view that the opportunities currently available within the country (The Gambia) do not provide a realistic pathway to secure a prosperous future, thereby reinforcing the perception that migration offers a few viable means to improve their livelihood.”
The parliamentarians also found that family expectations, peer influence and misleading portrayals on social media continue to fuel irregular migration.
“Images and stories portraying migrants as successful abroad, together with the financial support sometimes provided by family members to facilitate irregular journeys, continue to encourage young people to migrate despite the known dangers”, the report noted.
The mission further revealed that testimonies from survivors and returnees painted a grim picture of the realities behind irregular migration.
“The testimonies of returnees and survivors confirmed that irregular migration and trafficking in persons are not abstract concerns but lived experience marked by deception, exploitation, forced labour, abuse, detention, family separation, and severe psychosocial trauma”, the report further noted.
Despite these experiences, the lawmakers observed that returnees could become powerful advocates against irregular migration.
“Participants nevertheless recognized that survivors and returnees can become powerful advocates for prevention. Their testimonies constitute one of the most credible means of sensitising young people in communities” it added.
The delegation stressed that awareness campaigns alone would not solve the problem unless they were backed by meaningful economic opportunities.
“Participants emphasized that awareness raising alone is insufficient to curb irregular migration, since the system must be accompanied by meaningful employment, entrepreneurial support, vocational skill development, agricultural modernisation, access to financing, and sustained investment in youth employment”, report stated.
The report also underscored the need to strengthen support systems for returnees.
“Social reintegration requires not only financial assistance, but also psychosocial care, skills development, livelihood support, job placements, community acceptance, and protection from stigma.
“Participants stressed the need for stronger legislation, more effective enforcement and penalties capable of deterring offenders and dismantling organised criminal networks.”
The engagement further highlighted the importance of direct interaction between lawmakers and citizens in shaping effective policies.
“The engagement also reaffirmed the value of direct interaction between parliamentarians and citizens. The combination of community-based dialogue, local language communication, survivors’ testimonies and support-based outreach helped strengthen trust, promote greater public awareness and encourage meaningful participation of young people and other community members”, it stated.
At the conclusion of the exercise, the ECOWAS Parliament recommended that member states prioritise job creation through greater investment in technology, technical education and vocational training centres.
The lawmakers also called for stronger legislation and closer cross-border collaboration to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, alongside improved intelligence sharing among security agencies.
Other recommendations included the establishment of comprehensive reintegration centres offering psychosocial support, vocational training, entrepreneurship assistance, business development services and employment opportunities for returnees and survivors.
The parliament also urged governments to expand access to affordable financing for young entrepreneurs, strengthen investment in education and agricultural training, modernise technical institutions, and incorporate lessons on irregular migration and human trafficking into school curricula.
The report further recommended increased investment in border surveillance technology, faster passage and implementation of The Gambia’s Immigration Bill, and a review of existing anti-trafficking laws to reflect emerging trends.
It also encouraged greater involvement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, families and the media in sustained public awareness campaigns aimed at countering misinformation surrounding irregular migration.
The lawmakers further urged communities to discourage families from financing irregular migration and to report suspected cases of human trafficking and migrant smuggling to the relevant authorities.
They also advocated greater use of sports, arts and community dialogue as practical tools for educating young people about the dangers of irregular migration.
The delegation proposed institutionalising Parliamentary-Student Engagements across ECOWAS member states to strengthen oversight, public participation and evidence-based policymaking on migration and regional integration.
“The Parliamentary Citizen’s Engagement reaffirmed that irregular migration and trafficking in persons are complex regional challenges that require coordinated and sustained action by governments, parliaments, communities, civil society organisations, development partners and families”, it stated.
The parliamentarians commended the Government of The Gambia, the ECOWAS Resident Representative, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, youth and women groups, fishing associations, returnees, survivors and community members for their contributions throughout the engagement.
“The experience in Bakau, Brikama and Barra demonstrated that lasting solutions cannot be achieved through enforcement measures alone”, the report added.
Nigeria-Sierra Leone Renew Commitment to Stronger Bilateral and Regional Ties
Nigeria-US Renew Security, Trade, Investment Partnership
ECOWAS Parliament Maps Out Strategy to Tackle Irregular Migration Across West Africa
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