By Milcah Tanimu
The Organised Private Sector (OPS) has raised alarm over the increasing incidents of looting targeting trucks transporting food and raw materials, warning that this trend could lead to the shutdown of industries nationwide.
In interviews with The PUNCH on Monday, members of the OPS expressed grave concerns as incidents of vandalism and looting of trucks carrying essential goods continue to rise, exacerbating the ongoing food inflation and cost of living crisis.
Recent attacks in Ogun and Kaduna states targeting trucks carrying building materials and spaghetti have heightened fears among industry players.
Additionally, the Federal Government announced plans to distribute free grains to states starting this week in a bid to alleviate the prevailing hardship.
Numerous trucks and warehouses, predominantly owned by manufacturers and other OPS members, have fallen victim to attacks by hoodlums amidst the worsening food crisis.
The President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Idahosa, emphasized that the current economic hardship risks breeding anarchy, further threatening the viability of companies and potentially leading to their closure.
Idahosa stressed the urgent need for concrete measures to address hunger and prevent further deterioration of the situation, emphasizing that collective action is required to curb criminal activities.
Alhaji AbdulRahman Bioku, Chairman of Kwara/Kogi Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, echoed similar sentiments, attributing the looting to widespread hunger and frustration among the populace. Bioku called for government intervention to address transportation challenges and ensure the provision of raw materials to manufacturers.
Condemning the looting as criminal activity, the Executive Secretary of Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce, Alhaji AbdulRhaman Maku, urged law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with perpetrators. Maku called on state governments to fulfill promises of food palliatives to avoid further unrest.
Amidst these developments, the Publicity Secretary of the Anambra Chamber of Commerce, Chief Dennis Iberim, called on the government to review policies exacerbating poverty and high production costs.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has engaged with law enforcement agencies to enhance security around business properties.
Expressing concern over the impact on investor confidence, the CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, urged swift government action to address social and economic challenges contributing to the unrest.
As the OPS urges government intervention, reports emerged of a food truck looted in Zaria, Kaduna State, further underscoring the severity of the crisis. The incident, coupled with attacks on warehouses in Abuja, highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the food crisis and restore stability.
In response, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced plans to distribute free grains across all states, with an additional release of milled rice into the market to stabilize prices. Kyari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the food crisis and restoring normalcy in due course.