The Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Friday summoned an emergency meeting with stakeholders to devise ways of tackling the twin disasters of insecurity and economic hardship due to high prices of commodities.
The meeting was attended by the emirs of Katsina and Daura, Dr Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and Dr Umar Farouq Umar, members of the business community as well as security chiefs in the state.
In his brief comment before the meeting went behind closed doors, Governor Radda said the meeting became necessary particularly considering happenings in some parts of the country with regard to the current hike in prices of commodities, especially foodstuffs.
“We are all aware of the current skyrocketing of the prices of foodstuffs which led to protests in Niger State, Kano and other places. It has not got to our state yet, but it is necessary for us to meet and see how we can mitigate the situation before it gets out of hand.
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“From what we have gathered in terms of the reasons behind this terrible hike, is the fact that due to the fall in the value of naira, some neighbouring countries are coming with their little money to purchase huge amounts of grains and export them to their countries.
“There are also people who use their naira to purchase foodstuff for hoarding in order to save their money from possible loss due to the fall in the value of our currency,” the governor said.
He said whatever would be the resolution of the stakeholders meeting on the economic situation, there would be a task force to implement it for the benefit of all.
On the issue of insecurity, the governor said terrorists in the state had devised means of sporadic attacks on individuals and communities just to show that they were around in spite of the successes being recorded in the fight against banditry.
He said from the security reports he obtained, he was one of the targets of bandits due to his firm resolve to deal with the problem in the state, but he was not bothered.
Governor Radda then charged the participants to suggest ways of tackling the situation and proffer solutions to the problem.
