Gov Dikko summons stakeholders over rising cost of living

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Dr. Dikko Radda, Governor, Katsina state 

Gov Dikko summons stakeholders over rising cost of living

The Katsina State Government has called for a stakeholders meeting to find lasting solutions to the hardship and insecurity threatening the existence of the country.

Addressing the Stakeholders at the Government House council chamber in Katsina on Friday, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said the meeting had become necessary to address the issue of high cost of food prices which is threatening the existence of the country.

According to him, they must get all the stakeholders involved so that they  can share our opinions, as we cannot take action as a government without consulting stakeholders.

“The prices of foodstuff is on the rise making it difficult for the poor to purchase needed basic items which if care is not taken, hunger will take its toll on the people which will in effect bring about crisis in the country”.

Gov Dikko noted that recently, protests occurred in Niger and Kano States and we must take measures to avoid them here in Katsina.

“Traders are exporting the food commodity to neighboring Niger, Mali, and some parts of Libya because their currency is more valuable than ours. We have also received reports that trailer loads of foodstuffs are ongoing by traders and leaving the state all in a bid to maximize profits”.

“We are still in harvesting season but a bag of maize is being sold at about 60,000 Naira with the minimum wage at 30,000 Naira. Imagine how many measures of maize a family man with 10 children can buy in a day talk less of other expenses”.

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“If no action is taken, the poor will have no option but to start seizing food stuff from anyone found with it. We have to think twice and fast before the situation gets out of hand”, the Governor added.

Besides this, he said bandits have come up with new strategies because most of their informants supplying them with intelligence are nowhere to be found. Instead, they come on a rampage and abduct the poor people who have no guarantee of three square meals to sabotage government efforts.

“They now mobilize their colleagues from other states. And going by the security reports, I am part of their target but this has not bothered me and will not deter us from our efforts to restore peace to the people, because God will protect us”.

“These problems if we don’t take it seriously, will finish us”, Radda posited, appealing to the various communities to organize and defend themselves against the activities of bandits