Grains merchants in Y obe have warned that the prices of

grains will continue to soar due to the high cost of transportation and bad roads leading into

the state.

Alhaji Musa Garba, a grain merchant in Damaturu, told our correspondent that the high transport cost had resulted to the increased grains cost.

“The road to Biu in Borno State, which is the major supplier of grains to Damaturu, is  dilapidated and has not been repaired.

“Very few transporters are willing to ply the road and they charge grains merchants

exorbitant transport fare to transport their goods to Damaturu.

“The implication of this is that the high cost of transportation will be reflected on the prices

of grains and consumers who are at the receiving end will pay more.”

Abubakar Sani, another grains merchant in the state:. “At the peak of the harvest season, the prices of grains usually come down but today, the price has gone up.

“For instance, a 100kg bag of millet is being sold for N5,000 as against N4,000 at this time last year,” he said.

Speaking along the same line, Musa Ngalda, who also sells grains, predicted that this year’s harvest would not be as bountiful as that of last year due to the invasion of pests and epileptic rainfall pattern.

“Unli e inJl:!.e past when grains flooded the market during the harvest, the supply of grains

this ear is’fewaed far between.”

It will be recalled that the Yobe gov.ennnent had offered to mop up newly harvested grains from local farmers at profitable prices for sa e          he people at subsidised rates.

Alhaji Goni Fika, the Commissioner for Information, wno disclosed this, said that the government would expend over N71 million to procure 11, 500 babgs” of assorted grains.