NAQS Tightens Nigeria’s Border Security To Tackle Food Hoarding, Smuggling

News in Brief: - The Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service is cracking down on food smuggling and hoarding to address rising food prices and ensure national food security. - The agency is deploying more officers to borders, conducting inspections, and urging public cooperation to combat the illegal activities. Nigeria's Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has announced a nationwide crackdown on the smuggling and hoarding of food items and agricultural produce. The move is aimed at supporting government’s efforts at stabilise food prices, while ensuring national food security. The agency adds that it is deploying additional officers to land and sea borders to strengthen surveillance and control measures. They will conduct rigorous inspections and monitor the movement of agricultural commodities to prevent unauthorised exports. In its press statement, it highlighted the importance of food security in the nation, saying it was of paramount concern. Thus, stressing its commitment to ensuring that agricultural commodities are not smuggled out of the country, it hopes to contribute to price stabilisation as well as fair practices within the agricultural supply chain. Dr Godwin Audu, the acting Comptroller-General of NAQS, called for public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities related to food hoarding or smuggling. He emphasised that community participation is crucial for the success of the campaign. The action by NAQS aligns with the government's broader strategy to address recent challenges in the agricultural sector. It also aims to promote sustainable food security in Nigeria. Recall that in his latest push for food security, President Tinubu revealed that his administration is shunning imports in the belief that the country can feed itself through local production boost.