By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Kano Begins Distribution of fresh 224,000 Bags Of Rice
Former Governor of Sokoto state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, says now that the exchange rate of the Naira has considerably improved against other major currencies of the world ,it is high time traders and other business actors in the State and across the country reduced prices of essential commodities.
The Source reports that apart from the removal of petroleum products subsidies, another major reason which most business promoters have blamed for the escalation in prices is the high exchange of the country’s currency particularly against the United States of America Dollar.
But in a statement issued in Sokoto on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 by his media aide Bashar Abubakar, Wamakko, who is also the leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC in Sokoto, urged traders in the state ,and others in other parts of the country to align the prices of their products with the current improved exchange rate of the Naira.
According to him, with the exchange rate now hovering between N1.200 and N1.350 against the Dollar, both at the official and parallel markets, traders and other business actors have no reason not to adjust downward prices of essential commodities.
The former Governor of Sokoto State noted that since the exchange rate has come down from N1.700 to #1,200 to a dollar the traders have no justifiable reasons to continue to keep the prices of essential commodities beyond the reach of the ordinary people,.
He, therefore, appealed to the leaderships of Sokoto traders associations and all other relevant bodies in the distribution chain,to compliment the efforts of the Government in stabilizing the economy, by reducing the prices of essential items.
Wamakko, who spoke during Iftar ( Ramadan breakfast) with Some Commissioners,top Government officials and members of the academic community at his residence in Gawon Nama area of Sokoto , frowned at the attitude of some traders who are resisting pleas to bring down the prices of their goods.
The former Governor appealed to the leaderships of the traders association especially in Sokoto state to prevail on their members in the interests of the suffering citizens and the development of the country, to lower the costs of their goods.
Meanwhile, Governor Abba kabir Yusuf of Kano state, has warned that his administration will deal decisively with any persons and or groups that are caught trying to divert palliative materials meant for the people.
The Governor issued the warning on Wednesday April 3 during the flag off of the distribution of 224 ,440 bags of 25 kg of rice to the less privileged across the 44 local councils of the state to ease the pressure of Ramadan.
He said beneficiaries of the latest Ramadan relief materials have been drawn from the entire 11,222 polling units ,and 484 wards of kano state ..
He, therefore, tasked the Palliative Distribution Compliance Committee assembled from the state ,local council and ward levels to ensue that the palliatives get to the targeted beneficiaries.
According to Governor Yusuf ,this is the fourth batch of a wider programme of palliatives distributions to the poor and vulnerable sects to ameliorate the economic hardships being faced by them.
The distribution exercise,he stated,will be conducted on senatorial bases ,starting from Kano South,then Kano North ,with Kano Central coming last .
Governor Yusuf further announced that the state has started receiving its shares of Federal government palliatives ,with distribution patterns already mapped out,.
The Governor insisted, however,that those who have already benefited, should not expect another in the interests of fairness and equity.
