Food Dealers Exploit Alternative Routes To Rivers, S’ South States

The Hausa community foodstuff dealers in Rivers State, say they have started to arrange for alternative routes through which they supply foodstuffs from the northern part of the country to Rivers State and other South South states.
The group said it was taking this decision given the level of damage, killing and disruption of movement they have suffered on the South East route, particularly when there is any form of riot like the recent ‘EndSARS’ protest that was hijacked.
Leader of the Hausa community in Rivers State, Alhaji Ibrahim Maisundu, who disclosed this while speaking on a live radio interview in Port Harcourt on Monday, said his group had decided to use alternative routes in order to safeguard the lives and properties of the foodstuff dealers.
According to him, arrangements are on top gear to begin to use the Benin/Warri axis to transport foodstuffs down to Port Harcourt and other South South areas.
He debunked the rumour making the rounds that foodstuff dealers decided not to supply foodstuffs to Rivers State, saying the irregular supply was caused by insecurity on the South East routes.
“We don’t have problems with Rivers State and South South in our supply of foodstuffs. We have problems with the South East.
“Over 100 of our trailers were stopped in the South East in this recent disturbances and protests, and the foodstuffs being carried have been damaged especially those that are perishable, and some trucks vandalized or damaged.
“We are working seriously on alternative routes through Warri, and we want to stop the supply of foodstuffs to South East, except the governor of Abia State calls Arewa to a meeting.
“This issue has affected those that deal on onions very badly, and you can imagine that right now, a bag of onions now costs N80,000 in the Port Harcourt market. Who will like to buy, and how will people cook food without onions?
“We are appealing to the Rivers State Government to provide security for our people. We know that this state is a peaceful state and we have been living here doing our business for a long time without any problem.
“Very soon, everything will be okay, and trailers will start coming in to Rivers State, and normal food supply will be restored as usual, and we want regular food supply in this state “, Maisundu said.

By: Corlins Walter