In a significant move, the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) seized vast quantities of essential goods valued at millions of Naira in ten warehouses within Dawanau international commodity market in Kano city on Sunday.
The operation was the result of an intelligence-led initiative targeting individuals responsible for the hoarding of food items, exacerbating the hardship faced by the populace.
Led by the Commission’s Chairman, Barrister Muhyi, and his team, the crackdown targeted storage facilities hoarding a variety of food products across the region. Although the warehouse owners were absent, the discovered stores were overflowing with essential items such as rice, pasta, sugar, cooking oil, and more.
Barrister Muhyi announced that notices had been sent to the warehouse owners, summoning them to the Commission ahead of potential legal actions for their illicit activities. He emphasized the Commission’s commitment to combating the hoarding of essential goods in Kano State.
“We’ve made a considerable impact in halting the rapid increase in essential goods’ prices,” Muhyi stated, noting the alarming price hike of rice from N52,000 to N61,000 in just a week. He expressed optimism that the Commission’s efforts would not only halt further price increases but potentially reduce them.
During the operation, the team encountered claims of the hoarded goods belonging to the World Food Program, raising questions about the program’s operations. The sharp rise in maize prices, doubling from N30,000 to N60,000, was highlighted as particularly egregious.
Muhyi assured that the Commission would take control of the identified warehouses and proceed with arrests as necessary, underlining the zero-tolerance policy towards such market manipulation.
“We’ve engaged our intelligence network to pinpoint the hoarding locations and patterns, and we’re determined to address this issue head-on,” he concluded.
Reported by Ahmad Sorondinki from Kano.