Food blockade: Northern traders end supply embargo to Southern Nigeria

 

Cattle and foodstuff traders have agreed to lift the food blockade and resume foodstuff supplies to southern Nigeria, following the intervention of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi and a former aviation minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode.

The traders, grouped as Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria spoke to newsmen late on Wednesday, March 3, in Abuja after lifting their food blockade.

The Chairman of the group, Mr Mohammed Tahir, said the association had embarked on the food blockade in a bid to stop food and cattle supplies to Nigeria’s South-West, South-East and South-South.

Tahir said, however, that the association had decided to resume supplies, following appeals by Bello and other prominent Nigerians, who had been pleading with the traders.

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He explained that the embargo was a way to express the grievances of members of the association, following alleged attacks on some members of the association during the #EndSARS protest and Shasha Market crisis in Ibadan.

Tahir said that the association had chosen to toe the line of peace in resolving the matter, rather than carrying out reprisal attacks on fellow Nigerians.

“Instead of a reprisal attack, the only civil way to make our voices heard was to cut the supply of food and that has worked.

“We did not do that to punish the south or make them starve; but to make our voices heard and get a response to our demands; and let our people know that something was being done over their plight.

“We demand compensation for those who died; and attention for those still in the hospital. We demand that those who perpetrated these crimes should be punished.

“We want our people to be assured of their safety as they go about their lawful businesses,” said Tahir.

Responding, Bello lauded the traders for calling off their food blockade; praising them for not carrying out attacks on their fellow Nigerians.

The governor assured the traders that he would ensure that their demands were met; and that he would also engage with other governors and stakeholders to ensure peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

Bello said that he had since engaged Mr Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to make sure that everyone embraced peace.

The governor advised the traders to be wary of people, wanting to use them to stir violence; saying that Nigeria had come a long way as a united nation.

“In order not to allow these losses to continue, call off your strike immediately; and that will allow us to ensure that your demands are met.

“You are not asking for good roads; security on the highways; modern shops; or facilities like loans or bailout; you are only asking for justice and that the laws of the land should be applied.”

Also speaking, Fani-Kayode commended Bello for his intervention on the matter; stating that the governor had not rested until he ensured that the matter was resolved.

“If anybody had told me this situation would be resolved this easily, I would not believe but Gov. Yahaya Bello has done that.”