The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned traders and market operators nationwide to refrain from hoarding essential food commodities or artificially inflating prices during the ongoing Ramadan and Lent seasons.
Director General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu raised the alarm over credible reports that some marketers are deliberately holding back staple goods commonly consumed during fasting periods, creating artificial scarcity and driving prices beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.
The DG described such practices as both economically harmful and morally indefensible, particularly at a time when religious observance calls for compassion, generosity, and concern for the less privileged.
“It is deeply troubling that some individuals would exploit this spiritual moment for excessive profit-making at the expense of vulnerable citizens,” he said, adding that the hoarding of food items directly undermines national economic stability and compounds the hardship already being felt by many families.
Mallam Issa-Onilu stressed that responsible market conduct is both a patriotic duty and a moral obligation, noting that fair pricing and transparency align with national values and the core teachings of the religions being observed. He called on trade associations, market unions, and commodity groups to enforce internal discipline among their members and collaborate with regulatory authorities to maintain ethical market standards.
The NOA chief appealed to traders to view Ramadan and Lent as opportunities to demonstrate integrity and social conscience, rather than occasions for opportunistic gain.
The Agency reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing sensitisation campaigns across all states and local government areas and pledged to continue engaging stakeholders in order to protect citizens’ welfare and uphold the values that bind the nation together.
Signed: Bala Musa Director, Communication and Media, NOA
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