Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf of Kano State has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider opening land borders to improve food security in the country.
He made this appeal during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday in Kano.
Expressing concern over the challenging economic conditions faced by Nigerians, Kabir-Yusuf emphasized that reopening the borders could help alleviate inflation and reduce the prices of food items.
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“We appreciate the president’s intervention in the ongoing national food initiative, particularly in choosing Kano as the host for the initiative’s planned launch. We believe this program will mitigate the effects of food scarcity if implemented,” he stated.
Kabir-Yusuf highlighted the immediate impact of reopening borders on food availability and affordability, urging the Federal Government to allow free importation of commodities.
He praised the Customs’ food distribution scheme and emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent diversion of the commodities.
Furthermore, the governor pledged continued support to the Customs Service to ensure effective discharge of its mandate.
In his remarks, Adeniyi emphasized the importance of synergy between the Customs Service and the Kano community, pledging deeper collaboration and mutual understanding.
He assured stakeholders of policies aimed at refining business processes and fostering engagement.
Adeniyi reiterated the Customs’ commitment to addressing food insecurity and hardship in the country.
Regarding the reopening of borders, Adeniyi clarified that consultations were ongoing, noting that only President Bola Tinubu had the authority to make the decision.
He made this statement during an interactive session with members of the Kongolam border community in Mai’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State, in response to calls for border reopening to alleviate economic challenges.
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