The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has stated that agricultural products are expensive because of extortion carried out at checkpoints.
Maiha condemned the existence of 700 checkpoints where truck drivers conveying agricultural products are forced to pay an average of ₦1.2 million per trip, hence the high cost of meat in the market.
The Minister shared his reservation while speaking at the Daily Trust’s 22nd Annual Dialogue in Abuja.
He also attributed the high cost of meat in the market to the extortionate checkpoints manned by both state and non-state actors.
He said, “Our people who transport cows have to pass through about 700 checkpoints manned by state and non-state actors. The drivers are paying an average of N1.2 million as they travel from one part of the country to another, which will be transferred on the goods they are carrying.”
He called on the responsible government authorities to dismantle the checkpoints, particularly those created by non-state actors.
“We are calling on the responsible government authorities to rise to this occasion by dismantling these checkpoints, especially those created by non-state actors on the road to make food available and affordable for Nigerians,” he said.
He also said Nigerians should be tired of saying the country has potential, stressing that it was time to activate that potential.
The minister said agriculture policies should address the issue where people produce for only family consumption with little to sell. He said there was a need to change the way we do things in the agricultural sector for us to get a different outcome.