The Senate has kicked against plans by the Ministry of Power to approve the proposed hikes in electricity tariff by Distribution companies.

The Senate also rejected plans to remove electricity subsidy given the present hardships in the country.

The Senate then called on the government to step down the idea of an increase in electricity tariff.

The upper chamber also directed the committee on power to investigate the N2tn required for electricity subsidy payment, other debts owed in the sector, and the state of metering in the country.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion moved by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) during plenary on the need to retain subsidy on electricity in the country for the foreseeable future.

Last week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed at a press conference in Abuja that Nigeria was not likely to sustain the current electricity subsidy payment.

He explained that the indebtedness of the country’s power sector to electricity-generating companies (GenCos) and gas companies (GasCos) had risen to over N3tn.

He said, “Today, we owe a total of N1.3tn to the power generating companies, out of which 60 per cent is owed to gas suppliers. Today we have a legacy debt, before 2014, to the gas companies of $1.3bn; at today’s rate, that is close to N2tn.”

Sunday PUNCH had reported the spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adraamodu, as saying that it would not allow any hike in the price of electricity that might add to the woes of Nigerians.

Abbas in his lead debate said the “Senate notes with greatest dismay the plan to increase electricity tariff by the relevant statutory authority in gross disregard of increased economic challenges with attendant widespread poverty and high cost of living.”

He added, “The Senate may note that the Hon. Minister of Power was reported saying ‘the nation must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as the country is currently indebted to the tune of N1.3tn naira to generating companies (GenCos) and $1.3bn owed gas companies.

“According to him, over N2tn needed for subsidy, only N450 billion was budgeted this year. The same electricity businesses are collecting money from customers for services not rendered. When they have not added anything to the equipment, they inherited it from PHCN.

“Communities buy transformers to replace damaged ones in addition to overburden bills and arbitrary estimates for unmetered customers.”

Senator Abbas further stated, “Cognizance that in a country where a greater population live below the poverty level, with stagnant wages, rising inflation and depreciating currency, the prospect of higher electricity bill is unattainable.

“The issue of arbitrary energy charges on unmetered customers has become worrisome given the February 2024 report of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on the non-compliance with energy billing caps by DisCos and the penalty of N10.5bn imposed on the distribution companies that over-billed its unmetered customers.

“Aware that in 2018, the then Hon. Minister of Power, Works, and Housing directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to issue a regulation that facilitates signing of meter agreements between the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Ziglaks company and other meter asset providers to address the metering gaps in the power supply industry.”

He further noted, “Further aware that as far back in 2020 the president then, ordered the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to commence Mass pre-paid Metering to end estimated billing, and that Funds were released to that effect

“Disturbed that the multiple sanctions declared to be imposed by NERC against DISCOs for failing to comply with the scrapping of estimated bills for unmetered customers which include credit adjustments to overbilled unmetered customers for the period January – September, 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle, publication of the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies, and deduction of N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the eleven DisCos during the next tariff review seemed to have been in futility given the continued violations by Discos.”

It would be recalled that this Senate via a motion called on the Federal Government and NERC not to increase tariff on electricity for customers and citizens of this country at this time.

Abbas further noted, “Regret that in addition to the high cost of living being experienced in the country, the unmetered customers who are owners of small and medium enterprises are adversely impacted by this level of exorbitant electricity charges and by implication have their businesses affected.

“While the prospect of the new Electricity Act, 2023 of ensuring accurate electricity charges will be negated if DisCos are not investigated to ascertain the current statistical data on unmetered customers, poor provision of electricity service despite exorbitant tariff and regulatory role of NERC which leaves much to be desired.”

Contributing to the debate, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, (PDP, Sokoto South) said it was abnormal for the government to “consider hiking electricity tariff in the face of hardship,” stressing that “such action should not even be contemplated in the first place.”

Similarly, Senator Orji Kalu, (APC, Abia North), noted that even advanced economies subsidise electricity.

He said, “Why should people be paying for what they did not use? Our focus should be on transmission and distribution.”

There were long queues in many filling stations across Lagos State though the National Association of Road Transport Owners has called off its strike.

The queues, The PUNCH gathered, started building up in some parts of Lagos on Tuesday.

The queue was borne out of fear by Nigerians that premium motor spirit might become scarce as a result of the now-suspended NARTO strike.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nigerians stormed filling stations to engage in panic buying.

It was learnt that the refusal of the tanker drivers to lift fuel on Monday and Tuesday also had affected filling stations owned by independent marketers, many of whom had run out of supply.

In major areas in Lagos, the queues continued to build up, causing traffic gridlock on major roads.

Our correspondents observed that the filling stations along the Alausa axis of Lagos, including, Mobil, Total, Conoil and others had long queues.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations in Ogunnusi, Ojodu-Berger and Ikorodu Road had long queues, including Bovas.

Around the Isolo axis, the filling station at Apata Round-about was not selling fuel; it was the same scenario at the Total Filling station located close to Isolo General Hospital.

At Ishaga, an attendant at NPOG filling station told our correspondent that they had run out of fuel in the past three days.

The PUNCH also observed that the NNPC and Mobil filling stations at the College Bus stop were also out of fuel.

The Quest fuel station along Asuani Road was the only filling station that dispensed fuel on Wednesday, with a long queue of cars and customers struggling to buy at N640 per litre.

Along Gbagada Road, the NorthWest had a long queue of cars and was selling at N610 per litre, while Eternal at Gbagada Bustop was not selling at the time of filing this report.

When our correspondent visited a fuel station belonging to NNPCL in the Ikotun area of Lagos State, it was observed it was not selling fuel.

On Wednesday, a long queue was noticed at God’s Decision, along Governor Road, Ikotun.

“We learnt that there may be a fuel scarcity soon. They said tankers drivers are going on strike,” one of the customers at God’s Decision told The PUNCH.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Vice National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers, Hammed Fashola, said the queue was caused by the two-day strike embarked upon by the tanker drivers.

“The fuel queues were caused by the two-day stoppage of operations by the tanker drivers. By Monday, everything will clear off. The NARTO members called off their strike yesterday (Tuesday) and they resumed loading of fuel today (Wednesday). All the depots are working now,” Fashola said in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, Lagosians have lamented over the fuel scarcity that struck many neighbourhoods in the state.

On X (formerly Twitter), @EricaNlewedim on Wednesday described the development as bad news that was becoming too much.

“The bad news is just too much. What is it? Ahah! And now fuel scarcity, I’m really tired of being an adult in this generation,” the user wrote.

@mhs4lyf, who lamented the situation in Lagos, said he had to trek.

He tweeted, “Fuel scarcity in Lagos and hold up. (I) trekked almost 10km to go home. Thank God for life.”

A user, @honeymiixx, called on President Bola Tinubu to call oil marketers to order, saying, “There’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people. Please, talk to the oil marketers.”

@notsocialallen said just at the weekend, he was too lazy to go and buy fuel and “suddenly there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos”.

“There is fuel scarcity in Lagos and they are selling black market fuel for N1,200 and no light since the day before yesterday. Nah this place is hell,” @Thelengygirl posted.

@AAAlatishe wrote, “All the candidates literally said they were going to remove it. But then, you phase it out while having a better power supply everywhere. The subsidy has been removed, now, fuel scarcity everywhere with less or zero power supply. I believe most Nigerians will be okay at buying a litre at N1k, if they will only be using it in their vehicles. This brings me to this question, will we ever witness an uninterrupted 24/7 electricity in this country?”

“Fuel scarcity on top of all these problems is just crazy. Is it that they don’t think we have a breaking point?” @omosalewasmiles asked.

@Dxx_machina wrote, “No light, there is heat. Now, fuel scarcity and we can’t run gen. What the actual heck is wrong with this freaking country?”

“I’m lost, please what’s this fuel scarcity about? These guys are extremely wicked,” @Jaaayyyy__ posted on X.

@iamkvngdavid_ lamented he was in a long queue while “trying to buy fuel at N650 per litre, just this evening alone, I’m witnessing fuel scarcity”.

“Is it just me but I find some things very weird. There are no buses due to the fuel scarcity, then traffic,” @DarknSweetheart wrote.

“Fuel scarcity in Lagos. High pump price plus scarcity is hell. Which way Nigeria?” @MfonEssien lamented.

The fuel queues on Wednesday left commuters stranded, forcing car owners to turn to the black market to purchase fuel at inflated prices.

Bobagunwa stated, “Fuel scarcity is intensifying in Lagos. One litre is currently being sold for N1,000 on the black market. I always wonder what if Nigeria doesn’t have crude oil.”

Iniete expressed, “It’s my first time queuing for fuel all alone under the scorching heat in Lagos during this time of fuel scarcity. God, please seriously punish the people, past and present, who ruined this country.”

Babudere lamented, “There is fuel scarcity in Lagos, and black market fuel is being sold for N1,200. Also, there has been no electricity since the day before yesterday. This place feels like hell.”

Oyíndàmọ́lá conveyed, “Dear @NGRPresidentn @officialABAT, there’s fuel scarcity in Lagos again! Life is already unbearable for people; please talk to the oil marketers.”

Ade shared, “I saw the crowd at bus stations this morning as well. I helped the ones I could, but I still got fuel today for 605. Yes, there’s scarcity currently, and the queues are long. But no one is selling for 1000 here in Lagos.”

The PUNCH recalls that the tanker drivers on Monday parked their trucks, refusing to lift fuel over the high cost of operations.

NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, in a letter to truck drivers, said NARTO had made several efforts to secure negotiations for appropriate and commensurate freight rates for its operations from all authorities concerned in the industry, especially the major marketers, without any positive result.

However, the major marketers said the decision of NARTO to stop transporting fuel may not have much effect on them, some of whom have separate transporters.

The Federal Government has said it intends to review the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles that are smaller than 200 mls.

This followed a peaceful protest staged at the premises of the Federal Ministry of Health yesterday in Abuja by members of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB).

The protesters presented their grievances to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, citing the hardship the ban has caused to their livelihoods.

At the end of January, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) implemented a ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles smaller than 20ml, citing the adverse socioeconomic impact of such packaging on the nation’s future.

NAFDAC also said the inexpensive and readily available alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles contributes to the emergence of a generation of addicted children, as the attractive packaging makes it easy for them to indulge in excessive consumption.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe, to the National President of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, Jomoh Oyibo, expressed the association’s dissatisfaction with the ban imposed on the manufacturing, sales, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.

Oyibo complained that following the ban, NAFDAC had sealed over 25 companies producing such alcoholic drinks, saying it was meant to curb alcoholic abuse.

The union leader said the government’s action had affected entrepreneurs, dependents, and the workforce negatively.

According to him, considering the present economic situation in the country, the timing for the ban is not right.

Oyibo urged the ministry to intervene in the matter to remedy the current predicament the association was undergoing.

Addressing the protesters, Pate said the ministry would endeavour to address their grievances.

Appealing to the aggrieved group, the minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kachallom Daju, promised to look into their complaints and find a better option, going forward.

“What I am saying now is that we have heard your grievances. This is a listening government. We are going to discuss with partners, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other members on the way forward,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party will today (Thursday) hold its governorship primary in Edo State, with 10 aspirants battling for 563 delegates votes in the indirect primary.

The primary, holding at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, is expected to produce the PDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.

The 10 PDP aspirants include Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu; a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; and Blessing Igbinedion, daughter of Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Other aspirants are Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Dr Earl Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.

A party guideline released on Wednesday by the state Organising Secretary, Tony Anenih Jr, said delegates are to report at the Edo Hotel Marque, GRA, Benin City, where their accreditation will kick off at 8 am.

Also, each delegate will be given security access cards upon accreditation after which all accredited delegates will be conveyed in dedicated buses to the venue of the governorship primary.

According to the guidelines, only designated buses carrying accredited delegates shall be allowed into the primary’s venue.

Also, all vehicles conveying governorship aspirants will drop them and their guests off at the gate and depart thereafter.

“Delegates will be seated at the venue, local government by local government, while each aspirant will collect two security tags from the Edo PDP Secretariat, 59, Airport Road, Benin City. Each card admits one guest only.

“Only delegates, invited guests and aspirants will be allowed into the venue, while delegates, aspirants and their guests must be seated at the venue of the primary by 11 am prompt.

“Accreditation of journalists and civil society organisations will also be at the Marque. Only accredited pressmen and media outfits will be allowed into the venue,” the guideline added.

The guidelines noted that all security agencies have been activated to ensure that these guidelines are strictly followed.

The Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, said the party was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will be a reference for future primary elections in the country.

He said, “What the NWC (National Working Committee) and the party owe the aspirants is to ratify the results of the delegate elections, which they have done and the list of delegates has been given to all the aspirants to enable them to have access to the delegates and start lobbying them before the primary election.

“Once the party does that, I don’t know what else any aspirant will want. What we know is that the list will never be altered and it is those on that list that will vote on the day of the primary election. I also enjoin our members to conduct themselves well so we can have a hitch-free primary election.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has described last Saturday’s delegate primary election of the All Progressives Congress, as an eye-opener for it, saying would no longer treat such election as just a party affair.

The APC primary election ended in a crisis as it produced three ‘winners’.

The party is set to conduct a fresh primary today (Thursday).

The police spokesman in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, while speaking to journalists, said, “You could remember that we had a little hitch with a particular party delegates election. That has been an eye-opener for the Edo State Police Command; that we should no longer see it as a party affair.

“They delegates are people with diverse interests, people with diverse behaviours, people with different attitudes and characters. So, this time around, we are going to ensure that the right thing is done and protect the lives and properties of these party members.”

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four persons for allegedly parading themselves as army officers at Aina Street, Oshodi and other parts of Lagos on February 19, 2024.

PUNCH Metro exclusively gathered on Wednesday from a police source that the quartet of Ben Okafor, Darlington Iheanacho, Jonathan Yahaya, and Mohammed Umar were nabbed following sting operations across the state.

Our correspondent learnt from the source that Okafor and Iheanacho were apprehended on Monday at about 10:30pm at Aina Street.

The source told our correspondent that Okafor, who had claimed to be a corporal in the Nigerian Army, was caught with a jackknife alongside Iheanacho during a scuffle with another man identified simply as Oludotun.

Although the police had yet to ascertain the extent of Oludotun’s involvement in the alleged crime, he was suspected to be an accomplice of the duo.

After some policemen who arrived at the scene searched the two suspects, when their identities became doubtful, a fake Nigerian Army identity card bearing Corporal Geoffrey Emmanuel with serial number 140861, a jackknife, and pepper spray were said to have been recovered from them.

The police source said, “Okafor, who claimed to be a Corporal in the Nigerian Army, was seen with a jack knife alongside one Darlington Chidebere Iheanacho fighting one Oludotun. The latter reported that the soldier was chasing him with a jack knife and threatened to kill him.

“After the suspects were arrested and searched, a fake Nigerian Army identity card bearing CPL Geoffrey Emmanuel with serial no. 140861, a jack knife, and pepper spray were recovered from them.”

In a similar development just a few hours apart, Yahaya and Umar were also arrested for allegedly wearing black combat boots and camouflage trousers from the Nigerian Army uniforms.

Upon interrogation, however, PUNCH Metro learnt from the source that the suspects were believed to be imposters after they had failed to disclose their real identities and how they had obtained their uniforms.

The source said, “A Major attached to 81 Division Nigerian Army Provost, Bonny Camp Lagos, took Jonathan Yahaya and Mohammed Umar to the Onikan Division after the suspects were arrested when one of them was wearing a pair of camouflage trousers and a black combat boot, while the second was wearing a Nigeria Army uniform.

“On interrogation, it was discovered that both suspects were fake soldiers; they could not ascertain how the suspects got the army uniforms, hence their apprehension.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to our correspondent on Wednesday through a telephone interview.

Hundeyin stated that all the suspects would be charged to court immediately after the investigation into their crime was completed.

“The suspects will be charged to court after the investigation,” he simply stated following our correspondent’s inquiry on Wednesday.

PUNCH Metro had reported that in January, the Nasarawa State Police Command had said in a statement that the officers of the Nigerian Army arrested a fake soldier in the Awe Local Government Area of the state and handed him over to the command for interrogation.

The statement partly read, “The suspect claimed to be a soldier attached to 231 Battalion Biu, Borno State, but investigations proved otherwise. The criminal defrauded unsuspecting members of the public under the pretext of securing employment in the Nigerian Army.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect attempted to join the military but couldn’t; thus, he went to the military barracks to purchase the uniform he is using for his nefarious activities.”

Following the current economic crisis, seasoned actress Toyin Abraham has initiated a programme to distribute food to less privileged Nigerians.

The award-winning thespian announced this initiative on her Instagram page along with a designed flyer.

According to the flyer, the food distribution will take place in Ikeja every Friday, adding that she will give the sum of N5,000 to the first 50 people to arrive as a transportation allowance.

She captioned the post: “My friends @Smallyfares and I will be giving out food and I will also give 5k each for transportation to the first 50 people every Friday. Pls kindly check the above flier for more details.”

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arrested some currency exchange operators in the famous Kano currency exchange market, WAPA, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Naija News reports that the latest development comes after the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ordered a crackdown on currency speculators.

An eyewitness, Malam Isma’ila Zico, who spoke with Daily Trust, said officials of the EFCC surrounded the dollar exchange section of the market and apprehended many operators.

Zico said, “They were so tactical in the operation, it was after the apprehension that we found out that they have been in the market since morning. When it was time for them to strike, we then saw their operatives with crested vests and some other security agents, and they surrounded the Dollar exchange section of the market. I can’t say how many people were apprehended but they have taken away many operators.”

Confirming the raid, the WAPA currency exchange market Chairman, Alhaji Sani Salisu Dada, said the operatives of the EFFC were in the market to address the issue of dollar hoarding and operators that were yet to register as certified bureau de change operators.

He explained that EFCC had made some arrests, and those arrested were taken away for further investigations.

The chairman added that normal activities had returned in the market, and the association was ready to comply should the need arise.

The operatives also raided Bureau De Change operators in Sabo, Ibadan, over an alleged naira/dollar exchange hike.

Confirming the raid, an eyewitness said the current trading rate in the market is around N1900 to N1,940, adding that the operatives confiscated a lot of cash and arrested ten people.

He said, “They took about ten people. Amongst the arrested are people who don’t deal in exchange business, innocent people. They said they hiked the dollar to naira rate.”

The operatives also raided BDCs in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

The federal government is considering restart of the direct cash transfers to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians.

Presently, approximately 3 million people are recipients of these programmes, but due to the escalating cost of living, the government anticipates that an additional 12 million households could qualify for these direct payments.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, revealed this plan during the Ministry’s retreat held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state on Wednesday, February 21.

According to the finance minister, “The presidential panel on the social investment programmes, have prepared to go to Mr. President with an internal recommendation to restart the direct payments to the poorest and the most vulnerable. Everything is being done to ease the pain.

“We know that there’s been about 3 million beneficiaries now, but given the way the rates have gone, there are probably another 12 million people, households that can benefit from that payment.”

The minister noted that the expansion of the direct cash transfer aims to reach a wider population struggling with the economic situation and to put more money directly in the hands of those who need it most, allowing them to prioritize their needs and alleviate poverty.

The decision to inform the President of the Panel’s decision before the final report is completed is to keep the President abreast of developments.

Wale Edun stated that technology will be used to ensure smooth and transparent payments, avoiding manual processes and delays.

He said: “The only thing delaying that is not waiting for the end of the report. It is something that the intervention is meant to happen immediately.

“We have experts in technology, the commitment was to make sure that we use technology to ensure that we have a seamless payment, a seamless movement between the registered and the direct beneficiaries, without any manual processes in between. So it’s taking time to automate that process immediately that direct payment will resume”.

Recognizing the significant impact of food prices on household budgets, the government is taking steps to increase food availability and drive down costs.

The minister reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to release 60,000 metric tonnes of food grains.

He said: “The goal is to put food, to put feed into the mill, into the market, in an attempt to drive down the cost of food and make food available. Right now, that is the key priority in terms of the fiscal side, in terms of the government side.

Defending the plan of the direct cash transfer to the poorest and most vulnerable in society, Wale Edun argued that “history has shown, evidence has shown that when you pay someone directly, you put money in their hand. It reduces poverty because they decide where the shoe is pinching most.

“So it is a direct benefit, it has a direct effect on poverty. It alleviates, and there’s a commitment to immediately start that process. So that is, as far as these interventions are concerned and the landscape which we as a team are facing, we have a commitment to help to bring down inflation”.

“Growing the economy, creating jobs and lifting millions and millions of Nigerians out of poverty, that’s the ultimate goal of President Bola Tinubu and his economic policies.”

The minister acknowledged that the historical reliance on “Ways and Means” financing was a source of inflation. The government he said is committed to reducing this debt burden through various financial and revenue-generating initiatives.

He stated: “On the monetary side, Ways and Means have been identified, and we too agree that the historical legacy of Ways and Means that was inherited has to be dealt with, and has to be paid out one way or the other. And those are the financial engineering, those are the revenue initiatives that we are focused on to remove that burden, that inflationary burden on the economy.”

Edun said that close collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank is crucial in tackling inflation and stabilizing the Naira. To this end, the Central Bank is using various tools to achieve these goals, including stabilizing interest rates and managing foreign exchange rates.

The minister noted: “It is a battle, and the tactics change because there is a loss or a need to restore the value of the naira, a need to restore the confidence in holding the naira as a store of value. And all the arsenal, all the instruments available are being brought to the fore and used. And surely it is a battle the central bank will win. It is a battle the government will win. That is not a doubt.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that each state governor has been allocated an extra N30 billion to address the challenges of food scarcity and hardships confronting Nigerians.

Akpabio said each state should properly utilize the money towards ensuring the availability of food.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Akpabio said: “I must say that unverified report has it that each of the state government in the last few months received additional N30 billion from Federal Inland Revenue Service, outside their normal allocation from the federation account to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.

“We believe that every state government should utilise the funds so received towards ensuring that food is available.”

The current economic hardship has led to a hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.

The shortage of foodstuffs was also linked to the hoarding by some people and illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries.

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had disclosed how security operatives discovered 32 illegal routes being used to smuggle foodstuffs and other items to neighbouring countries from Nigeria.

Shettima said security agents intercepted 45 trucks smuggling maize to neighbouring countries.

He noted that the price of “maize” came down by N10,000. The price of maize allegedly came down from N60,000 to N50,000″ when the trucks were intercepted.