Food crisis: Kano Gov. Kabir-Yusuf urges Tinubu to reopen land borders

Kano State Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to open land borders across the country in order to improve national food security.

He made this statement on Monday in Kano during Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs’ courtesy visit.

Persecondnews recalls that the Muhammadu Buhari administration had in August 2019, ordered the closure of the country’s land borders over illegal importation of drugs, arms and agricultural products into Nigeria from neighbouring West African countries.

Kabir-Yusuf bemoaned the difficult economic circumstances that Nigerians were facing and asserted that reopening the borders would reduce food prices and curb inflation.

“We wish to appreciate the president’s intervention in the ongoing national food initiative.

“He considers Kano as the host for the initiative ahead of its planned launch believing that the programme will cushion the effects of food scarcity if implemented.

“Another immediate intervention that can make food available and affordable to our population is for the Federal Government to consider the reopening of the borders and allow free importation of commodities,” he said.

Kabir-Yusuf applauded the Customs department’s food distribution programme and asked for proactive steps to prevent the goods from being diverted, all the while highlighting the importance of reopening the borders.

The governor promised to help the Service going forward so that it could successfully carry out its mandate.

Adeniyi had earlier urged the Service and the Kano community to work together more effectively, stressing that NCS was dedicated to closer cooperation and understanding.

He promised to put rules into place that would improve stakeholder involvement and business process optimisation.

Adeniyi also had interactions with other state stakeholders and members of the business community.

The head of customs reaffirmed their dedication to tackling the nation’s food insecurity and misery.

The CG declared on Saturday that talks on reopening the nation’s borders were still in progress and that President Bola Tinubu alone has the authority to do so.

This was stated by Adeniyi during a conversation with people from the Kongolam border hamlet in Katsina State’s Mai’adua Local Government Area.

This was a response to calls for the borders to be opened again in order to lessen the impact of many issues, including economic hardship.