Kano uncovers N180m adulterated food items, begins crackdown

The Kano State Government has threatened legal action against traders involved in food adulteration following the arrest of some traders at the Dawanau International Grains Market.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Investment and Industry, Alhaji Shehu Sagagi, issued the warning during a visit to the market on Thursday.

The crackdown came after a task force operating within the market seized 82 tonnes of allegedly adulterated sesame seeds, valued at approximately N180m.

Sagagi, who lamented the severity of the food adulteration,  stressed that such illicit practices threatened “the image and age-long integrity of the market and damage to the state’s reputation in the global commodity trade.”

He noted that the Dawanau market played a pivotal role in food security and international trade, making it imperative to maintain its credibility.

To combat food adulteration, the government announced plans to establish a commodity exchange department at the market.

The objective of the initiative is to enhance regulatory oversight as well as prevent further instances of food adulteration.

The Chairman of the Dawanau Market Association, Alhaji Mukhtar Isa, assured the government of optimum cooperation in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for adulteration.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the market infrastructure, including the installation of solar-powered street lighting and boreholes.

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