Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider reopening the land borders in order to address the pressing issue of food security in the country. The governor expressed his concerns during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday in Kano.
Governor Kabir-Yusuf emphasized the challenging economic conditions faced by Nigerians and highlighted that reopening the borders would help alleviate inflation and reduce the prices of essential food items. He expressed his appreciation for the president’s involvement in the national food initiative, particularly recognizing Kano as the host for the initiative’s upcoming launch. The governor believes that implementing the program would mitigate the effects of food scarcity.
“In addition to the ongoing national food initiative, another immediate measure that can ensure the availability and affordability of food for our population is the reopening of borders and allowing free importation of commodities,” Governor Kabir-Yusuf stated.
While advocating for the reopening of the borders, the governor commended the Customs’ food distribution scheme and emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent the diversion of commodities. He assured continued support to the Customs Service to enable them to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
During the visit, Mr. Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, emphasized the importance of collaboration and understanding between the Customs Service and the Kano community. He pledged to implement policies aimed at improving business processes and fostering engagement with stakeholders, with the goal of addressing food insecurity and economic hardship in the country.
It is worth noting that the decision to reopen the borders lies solely with President Bola Tinubu, as stated by the Customs boss during an interactive session with members of the Kongolam border community in Katsina State. He assured the community that consultations were ongoing regarding the reopening of the borders, acknowledging the pleas to ease the burden of economic hardships.