COVID-19: Extortion by Police, other security agencies impede supply of essential commodities- Sani Gwarzo

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has expressed worry over the alleged extortion and delay of legitimately certified transporters by men of the Nigerian Police, Military and other security operatives across the nation.

Speaking in Abuja while receiving a brief from the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nasir Sani Garzo said the actions of the security men have caused huge obstacle in the free-flow of the delivery of foods and essential commodities across the country to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement made available to the media by the EOC of the ministry, Garzo stated that the matter had been reported to the appropriate authorities.

“It is very unfortunate that despite the intervention, extortion by the police and that of the military and other security still persist.”

“This is a great blow to the noble directive of the President for a free-flow and unhindered movement of Essential Commodity across the country, but we will not stop until the situation is addressed,” he said.

The Emergency Operation Centre of the ministry has so far received a total of fifty-five cases across the country, fifty-four of which have been resolved at the level of the Committee.

Sixty-eight percent of these interventions are logistics-related, and about twenty percent are market Intelligence issues where supply and demand were pair to keep the production afloat while other requests had to do with direct manufacturing operations and some requests were retail-related. (Nigerian Tribune)