Presidency Worries At Number Of ‘Food Trucks’ Locked Down By States At Borders [Video]

The Presidency has expressed concern over the number of food trucks that are being delayed at various checkpoints around the country or prevented from crossing state borders, following imposed curfews and lockdowns in various states of the federation to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

The Presidency made its position known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday.

Shehu said after the broadcast by President Muhammadu on Monday extending the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Lagos and Ogun States until May 4 over COVID-19, to be replaced by other measures nationwide, it had become pertinent to ensure that food and other essentials are not stopped from reaching Nigerians who need them with delays at checkpoints.

He said, “In the light of the presidential directive, during the nationwide broadcast last night, it is essential that attention be drawn to the reported large number of food trucks that are being delayed at various checkpoints around the country or prevented from crossing state borders, as a result of the various curfews and lockdowns in different states.

“The restrictions of movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic do not apply to vehicles transporting essential commodities, such as food.

“The country cannot afford a situation where agricultural products are being left to rot in trucks held at various checkpoints, when millions of Nigerians across the country need food. COVID-19 or no COVID-19, Nigerians need to eat.

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“Other essential items that can be transported despite the ban on movement as prescribed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) include: pharmaceutical and sanitary supplies, personal care items, agro chemicals and agricultural machinery, electrical products and electronics, oil and gas, courier services, health supplies and protective garments.

“Vehicles transporting essential items must not convey any commercial passengers. In addition, the occupants must not exceed three, i.e. the driver, spare driver, and conductor.

“The drivers must have basic protective and sanitary items, including: face masks, hand sanitisers, and tissue paper to and from their destinations. Once these conditions are satisfied, they must be allowed to travel freely to and from any part of Nigeria”, he tweeted.

BIGPEN investigations, however, revealed that several of the trucks purported to be stuck at various checkpoints are conveying people in a large number instead of food stuffs in most states borders.

Recalls that recently the Kano State Government had raised the alarm that food truck drivers usually convey people from other parts of the country into the metropolis. 

The Managing Director, Kano Road and Traffic Agency, Baffa Babba Dan’agundi, had said that the agency had observed that drivers were violating the recent order aimed at preventing the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kano by transporting persons from outside the state into the city.

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Rivers state and some other states has also raised the alarm of ‘strange influx of people’ and had tightened security at their borders as part of measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Findings revealed that few days ago Delta state Government Taskforce on COVID-19, had intercepted a truck which disguised as food truck but loaded with people who purportedly claimed to be coming from Lagos at Agbor and turned same back without verifying their mission in the state.

Investigations revealed that truck load of people disguising as food palliatives carriers are allegedly being transported under strict cover mainly at night around the country under the guise of COVID-19 lockdown for purpose yet to be fathom with security agents at the porous borders turning blind eyes.