Nigerians are grappling with growing hardships, and foodstuff transporters beneath the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Sellers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) have warned that meals costs will soar in December.
In an interview with Vanguard, the Nationwide President of AUFCDN, Mohammed Tahir, attributed the rising prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel, coupled with each day extortion and double taxation on federal highways, as key elements affecting foodstuff transporters.
“Every trailer-load of rice, beans, corn, and different commodities from Sokoto to Port Harcourt prices N2.25 million. The identical quantity is spent to move items to different components of the South,” Tahir defined.
He cautioned that meals costs would proceed to rise because the Christmas season approaches, exacerbating the already dire state of affairs for Nigerians. “The value improve will proceed into the New 12 months,” he added.
The escalating transportation prices are additional worsened by double taxation, with native and state authorities income collectors, safety businesses, and avenue extortionists organising roadblocks, and extra market charges.
Areas such because the South-East, South-South, and components of the South-West have been particularly problematic, with stories of harassment and even bodily assault of drivers and motorboys.
Tahir expressed frustration over the federal government’s lack of engagement with foodstuff transporters, regardless of their essential position within the nation’s meals provide. “Now we have not obtained any invitation to debate our challenges as main stakeholders within the meals system,” he lamented.
Many union members have stopped transporting foodstuff because of the hovering prices of enterprise. “How they’re surviving is one other problem,” Tahir remarked. “There was no intervention for foodstuff transporters by any administration.”
Regardless of these important challenges, Tahir harassed that the union doesn’t wish to resort to a strike, totally conscious of the results it will have on susceptible Nigerians.
“If we cease transporting foodstuff, it will paralyze your entire nation,” he warned, urging the federal government to intervene urgently to ease their burden and make sure the continued move of meals provides.
