Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers not to carry out the embargo and blockade of movements of food from the north to the south.
The chairman of the forum and former Minister of agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe who made the call on Tuesday in a statement in Kaduna stated that Nigeria was not a war with itself.
Ogbe, however, stated that the forum shared the concern of Nigerians over the decision of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and cattle dealers.
He, however, noted that the action would further complicate the socioeconomic and political problems currently facing the country.
“Nigeria is not at war with itself and such drastic action is not necessary. It will only further complicate the socio-economic and political problems facing our country today.
“ACF shares the concerns of Nigerians over the decision of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and cattle dealers to stop movements of needed food from the north to the south”, he stated.
According to the statement, “members of the union are said to have suffered severe losses during the #Endsars riots and the recent violence in Sasha in Oyo state targeted against northerners.”
“We believe that whatever may be the difficulties of their members in operating in other parts of the country, ACF leadership led by me is willing to help them solve these by talking to security agencies and the government.
“There is no need mounting a blockade by one section of the country against the other. Whatever may be our differences, the ACF as an ardent believer in free trade believes that goods should be allowed to move freely.
“This extreme measure is not progressive and even counterproductive. This is not the way to go”, the further statement said.
