Kano Anti-graft Agency Threatens To Seize Hoarded Goods, Prosecute Culprits
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Executive Chairman of Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Barrister Muhyi Rimingado, says the commission will not hesitate to seize essential commodities found to have been hoarded by traders in the state.
Rimingado who issued the threat while addressing a news conference at the commission’s headquarters in Kano, also vowed to prosecute the culprits.
“The PCACC will swing into action and will not watch businessmen hoarding essential commodities. We know there is the issue of forex, but those that hoard goods, even if the Federal Ministry of Commerce does not act, we will seize hoarded goods and take the owner to court,” he warned.
He expressed concern over the rampant cases of hoarding of goods in the state, saying that the commission is determined to discharge its mandate.
“We are overwhelmed; this is the most essential part of our job. We have inspected rice mills and found the commodity to be selling at N58,000 per bag as the company price,” he said.
The executive chairman said that beyond forex and government policies, certain business practices were also exacerbating the situation.
He warned that the agency would not fold its arms and watch some unpatriotic citizens hoarding commodities and causing untold hardships to Nigerians.
Our Correspondent reports that the commission’s threat came less than a week after Governor Abba Yusuf asked dealers to bring out essential commodities and sell to the people at affordable rates so as to alleviate their sufferings.
“I urge you to bring out the foodstuff and other essential commodities from your warehouses and sell to the people at affordable rates so as to alleviate their predicament,” he said.
He made the call during a meeting with members of the business community convened to discuss the worrisome state of businesses, trading and merchandising, especially with regard to high prices of goods, with a view to finding solutions to the problem.
During the meeting, the Governor also bemoaned the prevailing hunger situation in the state, with people, especially commoners finding it difficult to eat three times a day.
According to him, the trend had been worsened by the soaring prices of foodstuff, particularly rice, maize,beans and millet which he said had made the items unaffordable to the people.
