By Osita Chinedu
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised alarm over the disturbing trend of smuggling agricultural produce to neighbouring countries, warning of its deadly implications to the country’s food security.
According to HURIWA, the call was made as a response to the revelations made by the Governor of Kwara state, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq stressing that foodstuff is being smuggled out of the country due to the prevalent disparity between the naira and CFA.
Reacting to the news, the Governor who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) stated, “We have noted that food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa, and our neighbours are using our food to trade. They are taking our soybean and other foodstuff to make foreign exchange for themselves.”
Onwubiko Emmanuel, the National Coordinator of HURIWA condemned the possible systemic lapses in the Nigeria’s immigration and border security framework due to the flagrant smuggling of essential resources out of the country, which not only deprive Nigerians of vital food items but equally worsens the already decrepit food security and heightens inflation.
“As a human rights advocacy group deeply committed to the welfare of Nigerians, we express profound concern about the detrimental impact of this illicit trade on vulnerable segments of the population. The porous state of Nigeria’s borders has become a glaring vulnerability undermining the government’s ability to uphold territorial integrity.
“We emphasise that a nation unable to secure its borders compromises its sovereignty and risks being classified as a failed state. Nigeria’s porous borders have become conduits for various illegal activities, including smuggling, human trafficking and arms proliferation, posing significant threats to national security and stability,” HURIWA stated.
The group called for immediate action in the fortification of the porous areas of Nigerian borders which have enabled the transacting of illegal trades to the detriment of the nation’s growth and well-being.
It further recommended the adoption and implementation of comprehensive measures including physical barriers, and technological surveillance systems for effective monitoring and control of border movements. Moving on, the group charged the Federal Government to take decisive action to address the systematic challenges undermining the nation’s food security and sovereignty. The association further called for increased investment in border security infrastructure, enhanced collaboration with neighbouring countries to combat cross-border crimes and the strict enforcement of laws against smuggling and illicit trade.
