News in brief:
– Insecurity and road closures in Borno State are making grain transportation difficult, causing prices to soar.
– Farmers and traders struggle as high transport costs and terrorist threats disrupt the agricultural supply chain.
Frequent terrorist attacks, allegedly by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in southern Borno State, have severely disrupted agricultural activities and transportation, causing a sharp rise in grain prices.
Southern Borno, known for producing large quantities of beans, millet, maize, sorghum, and other grains, supplies food to major Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna. However, the closure of key highways, particularly the Damboa-Biu road, has worsened transportation challenges, making it difficult for traders to move produce to markets.
Transport costs skyrocket
What used to be a two-hour journey from Biu to Maiduguri now takes up to nine hours due to road closures and insecurity, a news report claimed. The cost of transporting a bag of beans from Damboa to Maiduguri has risen from between ₦2,000 and ₦3,000 to ₦8,000 and ₦10,000, forcing traders to pass the cost onto consumers.
“The cost of transportation is killing our business,” lamented Aliyu Biu, a grain merchant. “The roads are unsafe, and transport costs have tripled, making food prices soar.”
Many farmers and traders have been forced to abandon their businesses due to repeated attacks.
Modu Chiroma, a grain dealer in Maiduguri, lamented how insecurity is crippling the economy of Southern Borno.
“Biu town is strategic for grain production, but it has been cut off,” he said. “Farmers who used to transport their produce easily are now struggling. Even military escorts on some roads have not solved the problem.”
Calls for government intervention
Experts and stakeholders have urged the government to prioritise security and road infrastructure. Public affairs analyst Abubakar Mohammed Kareto stressed that the situation is severely impacting residents and businesses.
“The closure of major highways is worsening economic hardship,” Kareto said. “The government must act swiftly to improve security and reopen key roads to ease the movement of goods.”
Meanwhile, transporters like Abubakar Musa Kida believe that reopening roads will not only reduce grain prices but also weaken terrorists’ strongholds. “If movement resumes, Boko Haram will find it harder to operate,” he said.
