The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on border communities in Katsina State to stop the illegal exportation of food items saying that Nigeria may experience a food shortage due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

The Acting Controller of the NCS in charge of Katsina Area Command, Alhaji Dalha Wada-Chedi, made the call at a Customs/Community forum on Monday in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

He said, “I want to admit that I am like Oliver Twist who was always asking for more. Therefore, I want to solicit more cooperation in enforcing government policies relating to my area of operations.

“I want to let you know that the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict has resulted in uncertainties in the global markets as the region accounts for a huge percentage of grain exports, especially, wheat.

“This has triggered challenges in the transnational agricultural value chain of export in grains.

“It has, therefore, become pertinent to secure the grains cultivated in Nigeria in a bid to sustain the government’s agricultural revolutions and boost food sufficiency.

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“It is against the above background that I was directed by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hamid  Ali (Rtd), to undertake a stakeholder’s engagement in order to enlighten you on the implications of engaging in illegal food/grain export.

“We, therefore, come to solicit more cooperation from you by providing us with information in order to prevent the negative impact of illegal exportation of food/grains.”

According to him, the negative impacts are that it discourages infant industries from growing, leads to outbreaks of diseases, encourages the rate of crimes in society, and triggers communities/religious/political conflicts.

Wada-Chedi added that other negative impacts include; the impact on a nation’s economy leads to poverty and starvation in a country.

He invited the leaders of the border communities to come up with suggestions, observations, and questions on how to go about the challenge.

The controller said, “It is exactly one year since I assumed duty as the acting Area Controller of Katsina Command.

“Immediately after familiarising myself with the outstations of the command, I deemed it imperative to meet with the community leaders, stakeholders, human rights groups, civil society groups, and youth associations to discuss issues related to Customs operations for a successful discharge of our statutory functions.”

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The district head of Jibia and Sarkin Arewan Katsina, Alhaji Rabe Rabiu, said that the meeting organized by the NCS was a great development aimed at sensitizing the public on the government’s policies.

He called on the people of the area to follow the rules and regulations so as to attract the government to reopen the borders for businesses to continue.

In his response, the representative of Jibia Progressive Forum, Alhaji Gidado Suleiman, said that due to the insecurity being experienced in the area, he had not worked on his farm in the past four years.

According to him, the little that the farmers were able to cultivate must be utilized at home, saying that such efforts will not only benefit the government but also Nigerians. (NAN)