As lawyer seeks removal of import duties
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider reopening of Nigeria’s borders to ease food crisis.
Yusuf made the appeal when he received the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, at Government House in Kano.He lamented severe hunger in the country, which he blamed on hike in prices of commodities.
According to the governor, an immediate intervention that can make food available and affordable is the reopening of borders to facilitate importation of commodities.
He added: “We wish to appreciate the President’s intervention in the ongoing national food initiative, for considering Kano as the host for the initiative to be launched, believing that the programme will cushion the effects of food scarcity if implemented”
At the meeting, Yusuf noted the hardship faced by Nigerians, particularly as the Ramadan commenced and underscored the need to open the borders to alleviate the suffering of the people.
He also applauded the initiative by Customs to commence distribution of food items to citizens of Kano amid prevailing hardships and hunger faced by many, urging the Service to ensure the gesture reaches most Nigerians.
In his remarks, Adewale reiterated the significance of fortifying the bond between the Service and Kano community, emphasising the Service’s commitment to collaboration and mutual understanding.
He said he would implement policies that would facilitate businesses and foster engagement with stakeholders.Adewale also stated that the Service had made arrangements to address food scarcity and hardship in Kano by distributing essential food items to residents.
MEANWHILE, human rights lawyer and convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has called on Tinubu to temporarily remove import duties on all imported food items to alleviate challenges faced by Nigerians.
Adeyanju made the call, yesterday, in Abuja while reacting to Tinubu’s recent decision to direct the Customs to return seized food items to their owners.
According to him, the action demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to tackling hunger and food insecurity in the country. He added that the directive to the Customs Service reflected his responsiveness to the concerns and criticisms raised by the public.
He said insecurity caused by banditry and other criminal activities had significantly impacted the agricultural sector, regretting that many farmers were unable to go to farms due to fear of attacks, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity and food scarcity.
