Food scarcity: Kano governor urges Tinubu to reopen borders

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, consider reopening of the county’s borders for importation of foodstuff.
The appeal, according to the governor, is to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian masses.
Yusuf, in a statement by his spokesman, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa shortly after receiving the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi at Government House in Kano.
He said the governor expressed concerns over what he described as critical condition of hunger and starvation in the country, which according to him, was caused by rampant hike in the price of commodities in the country.
“We wish to appreciate the President’s intervention in the ongoing national food initiative which he considers Kano as the host for the launch of the initiative. We believe that the programme will cushion the effects of food scarcity if implemented,”
According to the Governor, “another immediate intervention that could make food available and affordable to our teaming population is for the Federal Government to consider reopening of borders.
He emphasized on the prevalent hardships faced by Nigerians, particularly during the sacred month of Ramadan, underscoring the necessity of opening the borders to alleviate their distress.
He also expressed satisfaction with the Customs Service’s initiative to commence distribution of food items to the citizens of Kano amidst the prevailing hardships and hunger experienced by many, urging the Service to ensure that the gesture reach those most affected.
Furthermore, the Governor assured the Service of his unwavering support in all aspects, particularly those that would yield positive outcomes for Kano and Nigeria at large.
In his remarks, Adeniyi reiterated the significance of fortifying the bond between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Kano community, emphasizing the Service’s deeper commitment to collaboration and mutual understanding.
He pledged to implement policies aimed at refining business processes and fostering engagement with stakeholders.
While in Kano interacting with various stakeholders, CG Adeniyi also stated that the Service had made comprehensive arrangements to address the current challenges of food scarcity and hardship in Kano by distributing essential food items to the state’s residents.