Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has urgently appealed to President Bola Tinubu for the reopening of Nigeria’s land borders to alleviate the prevailing food insecurity in the nation,leadership reports.
During a meeting with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Governor Yusuf stressed the critical necessity of reopening the borders to mitigate inflation and reduce the soaring prices of essential food items.
The closure of land borders by the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari aimed to combat smuggling and promote local consumption. However, Governor Yusuf highlighted the detrimental effects of border closure on Nigerians, particularly in exacerbating economic hardships and food shortages, even after more than two years.
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In a statement shared on X handle (formerly Twitter), Governor Yusuf lamented the dire state of hunger and starvation across the country, attributing it to the steep rise in commodity prices. He urged President Tinubu to prioritize the reopening of borders for food importation as an urgent measure to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
Governor Yusuf also expressed gratitude for the Nigerian Customs Service’s initiative in distributing food items to the people of Kano State. He urged the Customs Service to ensure that this humanitarian effort reaches those most affected by food insecurity. Furthermore, he pledged continued support to the Nigerian Customs Service and emphasized the importance of collaboration between Customs and the Kano community.
Echoing Governor Yusuf’s sentiments, Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of NCS, pledged to enhance synergy and engagement with stakeholders to streamline business processes and address mutual concerns.
