Hardship: Sokoto Task Force, traders meet,  for solution on food items , others  rising costs

By S. Adamu, Sokoto

The trend of the current economic hardship yesterday necessitated an urgent stakeholders meeting in Sokoto between the State Task  Force Committee on Hoarding and Smuggling of food items and essential commodities and the State Traders Amalgamated Union with a view to forge a way forward for citizens in the state to have relief.

No fewer than leaders of 10 traders associations including those of Rice, Vegetables, Potatoes, Chickens, Livestock, Grains, Yams, Fruits , butchers , Onions among others resolved to ensure an end to activities causing the hardship occasioned by hoarding and smuggling resulting to rising cost of commodities and food items.

The Task Force Chairman, Honourable Dalhatu Sidi Mamman said the committee’s desire was to put a stop to hoarding and smuggling out food items and essential commodities to neighbouring countries through Sokoto land borders.

” We want to do everything humanly possible to bring relief to people that is why we summon this meeting with our traders.

” We are all Sokoto people and there is no reason we should not come together and address this problem in the interest of citizens in the state. This is fasting period which encourages kindness, goodness and empathy for one another in whatever way possible for Allah ‘s reward and mercy”, he pointed out as he insisted nothing will deter the  Task Force doing the right thing to bring succour to the public in the state.

” We will not hesitate to clamp down on anyone or storage facility found perpetrating hoarding or smuggling of food items.

” We request your human face and support in fostering relief “, he maintained as he disclosed that the state government was ready to finetune modalities that would strengthen avenue for sustained public trust and welfare of people of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Traders, the Chairman ,  Grains and Livestock Amalgamated Traders Union , Alhaji Lawali Bello assured of improvement in the prices of food stuff by encouraging both dealers and other categories of traders to have empathy.

” I will also emphasise that smuggling of food items should be monitored and stopped.

” We will work out measures at conducting routine meetings and create awareness among our members at different levels to appreciate little gains than insisting on profiteering”, he said while appreciating the state government through the Task Force for initiating an interface approach that identified among others observations , challenges and way forward following brainstorming issues that bordered on insecurity, difficulty in accessing bank loans , rise in PMS price, lack of government special empowerment or intervention drive for farmers and designed patronage and fear of God among critical factors aiding the current hardship.