As part of the measures to ameliorate the suffering of citizens occasioned by high cost of food items, the Nasarawa State government has reached an agreement with traders and marketers association in the state to buy off their wares and sell them at discounted prices to the people.
Following the agreement, the government has taken custody of more than 2,100 bags of rice from the association for onward sale to the people.
Governor Abdullahi Sule who disclosed this to newsmen said the state government would continue to explore all avenues aimed at alleviating the plight of the people of the state.
He said he had earlier met with the leadership of the association where he pleaded with them not to hoard food items but rather bring them out for the government to buy.
According to him, the state government will distribute the items to the poor and vulnerable free while selling at affordable prices to those who can afford them.
“We will buy from them and distribute part of the rice free of charge and sell the remainder at a discounted price. We will also buy millet and maize to be shared to people. We want to therefore appeal for the people to remain patient,” he said.
He decried a situation where traders purchase and hoard food items solely for profit maximisation, and urged members of the traders and marketing association to sensitise their members on the ills of hoarding food items, especially at a time when people are finding it difficult to feed.
“It is high time we came together to help ourselves. It is inconsiderate for someone to hoard food items while waiting for the prices to soar before selling them.
“It is even possible that at the time such a person wants to sell his food items, he may lack buyers because of scarcity of money. It is not good for someone who bought a 50kg bag of sugar at N32,000 to turn around and sell it at N72,000.
“Stop hoarding food items.
Hunger is ravaging the people. If we continue to hoard food items and people continue to die, we would answer before God,” he stated.
Also speaking, the president, Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, Musa Turaki-Gamji, promised that the union leadership will continue to sensitise traders on the need to support government’s plans to assuage the plight of the people.