NOA Cautions Traders Against Food Hoarding, Price Manipulation During Ramadan And Lent

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.

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.