Hardships: Kano anti-graft agency vows to checkmate artificial hike in price of commodities

The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (KPCAC), Bar. Muhyi Rimingado, has assured residents of the state that the commission will take all necessary actions to prevent artificial price hikes of commodities, aimed at alleviating the current suffering of the people.

Speaking at a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters, Rimingado revealed that the commission has received numerous complaints from residents regarding the sudden increase in bread prices by bakers, despite the recent reduction in the price of flour.

In response, the commission has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the price hike, whether it is artificial or due to other factors.

According to him, the commission upon engaging the bread bakers was informed that it initially reduced the price of bread but claimed within two days flour dealers increased the price of flour bag by N5,000.

From last week to early this week, we received series of complaints from members of the public that there was a reduction of about N12,000 in the price of a bag of flour, but the bakers of bread did not follow suit by reducing the prices of bread.

“We reached out to the bread bakers and we were made to know that they have reduced price of bread but they also complained that within last two days the dealers increased the money (N5,000) per bag. That it was sold for around N60,000 but now N62,000 and N65,000.

Rimingado, therefore added that the commission is mediating between the parties to ensure that the right thing is done and to also ensure that the price hike is not artificial in order not to put untold hardship on the people.

He, however, hinted that the commission is working round the clock to ascertain circumstances surrounding the increment and also plans to beam its searchlight on other commodities in order to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

“As you rightly know, the commission has dual mandate, we are the Anti-Corruption agency and also ombudsman, that it ensures that there is no hardship melted on the public,” he said.

He further disclosed “We intend to bring the traders and bakers together and the commission will come in between to know what is happening.

“We always and periodical find ourselves engaged in these activities because we (Nigerian society) are passing through a series of challenges and the major one is food price hikes which is bedevilling the strata of society.

He stated “We will extend it to other commodities. Because we have been gathering intelligence aftermath of measures we (the commission) have taken previously. We didn’t just fold our arms but we have been monitoring the situation and we are aware that to some extent prices of commodities do change.

“But we are following the trend to know what is the genesis. Take for instance, that within two days N5,000 was increased in a bag of flour.

“Then we will ask who is doing this to the country? And what is the genesis? Is it artificial? If it is artificial, who is behind it? Because we are acting on behalf of the government based on the request of the people.

He, however, stated that we will do whatever it takes within the purview of the law to make sure that we mitigate the suffering of the people even if we will engage in extraordinary measures that we used to apply before. Secondly, we will make sure we protect the rights and interests of those involved in that kind of business.

“They want the government to act and mitigate the suffering of the people. This is what we have been doing and we have results.

“We did it recently before the month of Ramadan when we went after those hoarding essential commodities and bring down the prices of the commodities for the people, even the Federal government from the Presidency urged other state governors to emulate Kano because of what the state government through this commission did.

“We also did it during the COVID-19 pandemic and fuel scarcity. So it is something we have tested before,” Rimingado however maintained.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE