The smuggling of rice
through the land borders has continued to thrive in Badagry area of Lagos State
in spite of the Federal Government’s ban on the practice.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that markets along Badagry Expressway close to Seme
border, are stocked with various varieties of smuggled rice, especially as the
Christmas season approaches.
A smuggler, who
identified himself as Sunday Egeseme, was seen offloading bags of rice from his
car at Alaba Rago Market in Okokomaiko area of Lagos.
He described the business as “lucrative’’.
“We are messengers to
the main owners of the goods who are in the Seme border.
“Transporting rice from
Seme to customers in various location of the town is a fast moving business
with good returns,’’ Egeseme said.
He, however, declined
to say the exact amount it cost to ferry a bag of the commodity.
Egeseme, a driver, said
that the Christmas period was the peak of the business as many families
depended more on the consumption of rice.
At Doyin Bus Stop
market before Navy Gate Market, Okokomaiko, a trader who could not find space
at the Alaba rice market, was seen taking delivery of the product from
smugglers.
A driver simply known
as Taiwo, who was exchanging banters with his colleagues for a successful trip,
said his target was to make a lot of money before the end of the season.
“I run three trips before
morning breaks and two in the day time if the road is good.
“The security officers
are there but we still find our way unless one is a new person on the route,’’
Taiwo said.
Mrs Celine Ukachi, a
rice seller at the Navy Gate Rice Market, said, “we are used to selling the
Cotonou rice because it is easy to get than the local ones.
“If we see the local
ones, we sell together with the Cotonou one so that everybody who wants anyone
can buy,’’ Ukachi said.
The trader also claimed
she had been in the business for four years. - Guardian
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