Hunger: Nigerians need survival not insensitive media report on smuggling — Group

A Non-government Organization, Vanguard of Liberty & Social Justice, has condemned various media reports on alleged smuggling activities around the border towns of Yewa land, in the West Senatorial District of Ogun State, saying reports of that nature are not in the best interest of Nigerian people at this critical time.

The group asserted that the economic situation in Nigeria, where inflation is in galloping stage and has profoundly impoverished majority of households does not give room for antagonism against seeming respite for the common man on the street.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Olugbenle Fadina in Abuja on Thursday and made available to newsmen.

According to the statement, the intensity of hunger in Nigeria at the moment is extremely alarming and unbearable, making life so meaningless to many Nigerians and calls for urgent means to douse the gathering tention.

It observed that the Federal Government’s policy that banned foreign goods, especially food items has not in any way yielded any positive impact on the critical sector of the Nigerian economy nor on the lives of ordinary Nigerians .

The statement, however, stressed that there is urgent need for the Federal Government to review its policy on food security, adding that the present policy on food importation appears very irrational and achaic without human face.

It further warned journalists to write with the consciousness of general good and the prevailing mood of their environment, in order not to hit up the polity through their reports.

“We believe the tenets of journalism is to serve as illumination for the ultimate good of the people and bring government accountable to the people at all times.

“It is therefore, inexplicable and illogical that some individuals claiming to be investigative journalists are writing about smuggling of food items like rice amidst detestable hunger and misery.

“The salient question for these people is how has an average Nigerian benefited from the Federal Government’s policy on food importation? How does importation of food items threaten the security and welfare of Nigerians?

“It is indeed very unfortunate that some individuals in the name of journalism could be that insensitive and cruel; instead of mounting pressure on the government to reverse its acrobatic policy on food importation in the face of deadly hunger, these elements are comfortable writing about smuggling”, the statement said.