FG To Compensate Northern Food Dealers With N4.75bn

Federal Government has wade into the food crisis between the Northern and Southern part of the country, as it has agreed to pay the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers in Nigeria, AUFCDN, N4.75billion as compensation to end its food strike.

This was disclosed by the AUFCDN President, Muhammad Tahir in Abuja after a meeting with representatives of the federal government led by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

“They agreed to pay the compensation and call off multiple taxation on the federal highways and allow us to engage in our business activities peacefully nationwide.

“All stakeholders and members of AUFCDN in our nationwide strike are glad we achieved what we wanted to achieve. Since Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello begged us on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we agreed to call off the nationwide strike today,” Tahir said.

Mr. Tahir disclosed to the Nation that the government has also agreed to ensure protection of its members, stop multiple taxation and intimidation by security agents on the roads.

He said other demands presented by Mr. Bello before the government through the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, includes the protection of the union’s members and the ability to withdraw its services from states in case of an attack.

Heritage Times had reported that sequel to the Shasha market crisis between Northern and Yoruba traders in Oyo State, the union had suspended food supplies to the South in protest.

It would be recalled that last week, trailer loads of cows, tomatoes, and other farm produce had been prevented from leaving a border town in Niger State to the Southern part of the country.

There were also unconfirmed reports of unsold and spoilt food stuffs that could not get to its potential Southern market from the North.