Kano Govt Shuts Down Warehouses in West Africa’s Biggest Grain Market

Tension gripped Dawanau International Grains Market on Monday after officials of the Kano State Consumer Protection Council (CPC) stormed the facility and sealed several grain storage warehouses suspected of using banned, highly toxic chemicals to preserve food items.

The enforcement operation, carried out by the council’s operations team, followed reports that some traders had been applying chemicals not approved for food preservation to protect grains from pests and deterioration. Dawanau, located on the outskirts of Kano, is widely regarded as West Africa’s largest grain market and supplies staples such as maize, millet, sorghum and cowpeas to buyers across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The Director of Operations of the Kano CPC, Auwalu Muhammad, told journalists that the raid was launched after the agency uncovered what he described as a dangerous and unacceptable practice within the market.

He said officials moved in after receiving credible information that certain warehouse operators were using prohibited chemical substances on grains intended for human consumption. According to him, the council sealed the affected warehouses to prevent further distribution of potentially contaminated food products while investigations continue.

“This is not just about business; it is about our health,” Muhammad said. “The food we buy from the market could be poisoned. We will not allow anyone to endanger the lives of innocent consumers for profit.”

The Head of Quality Assurance at the council, Sani Danjuma Haruna, warned that the chemicals allegedly used by the traders are not meant for food preservation and could cause serious health complications for anyone who consumes the affected grains.

Haruna explained that exposure to toxic preservation chemicals can lead to acute poisoning and may also pose long-term risks, including damage to vital organs. He urged consumers to be vigilant and report suspicious food products to the authorities.

The CPC said samples would be subjected to further analysis, while affected traders would be made to account for the substances found in their warehouses. The agency also warned that it would extend its enforcement exercise to other storage facilities and markets across the state if necessary.

The action has unsettled traders in Dawanau, where thousands of people earn their livelihoods daily and large volumes of grains are moved to markets within Nigeria and to countries including Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Mali.

Some traders reportedly expressed concern over the sudden closure of warehouses, arguing that the market should be given clearer guidelines on approved storage methods. Others welcomed the intervention, saying it was necessary to protect the reputation of Dawanau and restore public confidence in grains sold there.

Consumer-protection authorities in Kano have previously raised concerns over the use of hazardous substances in food production and preservation. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had earlier warned traders in the state against toxic additives and preservatives, including chemicals that can have severe long-term health consequences.

The Kano CPC said it would continue monitoring the market and promised to prosecute anyone found to have used banned chemicals on food items. It also called on warehouse owners and grain merchants to adopt safe, approved preservation practices.

As at the time of filing this report, it was not immediately clear how many warehouses were sealed, the quantity of grains affected, or whether any arrests had been made. The council said further details would be released after the completion of its investigation.

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