The Nigeria Customs Service has appealed to border communities in Katsina to stop the illegal exportation of food items, stating that Nigeria may experience a food shortage due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

The acting controller of the NCS, Katsina Area Command, Dalha Wada-Chedi, made the call at a customs/community forum on Monday in Jibia local government.

He explained that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in global uncertainties as the region accounts for a large percentage of grain exports.

“This has triggered challenges in the transnational agricultural value chain of export in grains.

“It has, therefore, become pertinent to secure the grains cultivated in Nigeria in a bid to sustain the government’s agricultural revolutions and boost food sufficiency,” he said.

Mr Wada-Chedi stated that the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Hamid Ali, directed him to undertake a stakeholder’s engagement to enlighten communities on illegal food exportation.

He emphasised that the negative impacts are that it discourages infant industries from growing, leads to an outbreak of diseases, encourages crime rates and triggers communities, religious, and political conflicts.

Mr Wada-Chedi added that other negative impacts include impacting a nation’s economy and leading to poverty and starvation in a country.

(NAN)