Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently consider reopening the country’s borders to food imports in order to lessen the suffering of the majority of Nigerians.
Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor’s spokeswoman, made the request in a statement shortly after meeting Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service, at Government House in Kano.
Yusuf bemoaned the dire state of poverty and hunger in the nation, which was brought on by an increase in the cost of goods.
“We wish to appreciate the President’s intervention on the ongoing national food initiative which he considers Kano as the host for the initiative to be launched believing that the programme will cushion the effects of food scarcity if implemented,” he said.
The Governor says that the Federal Government should think about reopening the borders and permitting unfettered importation of goods as another immediate measure to increase access to and affordability of food.
In his discussion with Adeniyi in his office, Yusuf highlighted the common sufferings of the people, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, and the need to open the borders in order to ease their suffering.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the Customs’ initiative to begin providing food supplies to Kano residents, given the continuous hardships and widespread hunger. He asked the Customs to ensure that the most disadvantaged individuals benefit from this humanitarian gesture.
In addition, the Governor gave the Customs his word that he would back them in anything, especially if it meant good things for Kano and Nigeria as a whole.
Throughout his speech, Adeniyi emphasized the need of strengthening the ties that bind the Nigeria Customs Service to the Kano community and the Service’s greater dedication to cooperation and understanding.
He promised to put procedures into place that would improve stakeholder involvement and business process optimization.
CG Adeniyi said that the Service has made extensive plans to address the current issues of food scarcity and hardship in Kano by providing critical food products to the state’s population while in the state meeting with key stakeholders.
