Nigeria is notoriously in shambles, her citizenry never cease to rumble, in a jungle risen with menacing noise and unexplainable confusions, similitude of an empty darkroom ridden with political jumbos. For the whole duration of her being an independent nation, untold ruination had tainted her sanctity and prominence among the country of Nations that horrendously call for a speedy reincarnation of her lost values, norms and glory. It is only then, that many will lease to worry about her future and puzzling story.
Nigeria is notoriously in shambles, her citizenry never cease to rumble, in a jungle risen with menacing noise and unexplainable confusions, similitude of an empty darkroom ridden with political jumbos. For the whole duration of her being an independent nation, untold ruination had tainted her sanctity and prominence among the country of Nations that horrendously call for a speedy reincarnation of her lost values, norms and glory. It is only then, that many will lease to worry about her future and puzzling story.
“Kano Tumbin Giwa” is a popular Hausa accolade that is used in describing the intimidating presence and existence of a historic cosmopolitan city with its commercial astuteness and veritable success. This cadre of a city has a wholly swallowing and all-encompassing policy of assimilation whose vivid impact contributes vastly towards positioning it among the opportune-few commercialized and industrialized cities in sub-Saharan Africa. History had it that in the 60s, when commercial activities were as rare as an oasis in a desert, Kano’s economy alone is equivalent to 2/3 sub-Saharan Africa nation’s economy combines altogether. What an economical feat!
The fact that this ancient city has produced a sizeable number of likes business- oriented Aliko Dangote, The Dantata’s, the Ishaku Rabiu’s and late Nababa Badamasi just to mention a few, calls for a genuine reflection and study of the causes and or rational behind its speedy economic degradation caused by Nigerian Customs Service in Kano.
Conjure up an image of what a buoyant economy or rather a strong economic base is suppose to be vis-vis a state that once took pride in raising and parading a monumental groundnut pyramid, export-friendly hide and skin, profits churning markets the likes of ancient Kurmi market, Wambai market, Kanti Kwari Market Dawanau Grain Market and now Sabon Gari market and the list goes on and on, but all this are in high stage of collapsing because of illegal activist of men of the Nigerian Customs Service from the Federal Operations Unit, Kaduna.
In the intelligence circle, “economic sabotage” is as scandalously destructive as it is graciously important in weakening an enemy state, which I believe the customs saw Kano Market as an enemy of state by forcing most of petty traders to increase the price of Rice because Customs are collecting unofficial duties from them.
Just suspend all sentiments and bias and just study the manner at which Nigerian Customs Service is operating in Kano Market and highways, while they have left our borders open to the executive smugglers. This is self-induced economic sabotage by our customs men.
A lot have been said about the Nigerian Customs Service, how most them enrich themselves through illegal ways of collecting and arresting innocent ‘Yan Kasuwan” Kano inhabitants, treating them as smugglers when they come to buy rice at Kano Market. The customs operative usually responds that the Federal Government has banned the importation of rice or these goods are contraband and it’s illegal to them in Kano, while they have allowed the same goods into the Nigerian market free of charge.
This rice, that Nigeria customs marked as contraband is local rice processed within Kano, because of the increased of rice millers in the state, and sold at Singer market, but they would block our highway until you pay certain amount of duty before they being allowed to pass with this so-called contraband. Investigations have shown that a small car loaded with rice has to pay N20, 000 before he would allow to pass.
With all the illegal activities of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service, the Kano Market is facing an economics downturn because people from other states are boycotting the market due to the harassment they face from this government agency.
The popular Singer Market can now be found with empty stalls as most business men relocated their activities to Abuja and Lagos because most custom officers made them to pay high fess for goods they considered contraband, by their own definition.
Under-developing Kano is another form of economic sabotage by Nigerian Customs. I wish the new Comptroller-General would look into this issue and call all his men and officers to order.
May God Save Kanawa from this trend.
Thanks.
Jibrin Usaman Bichi is a public communications adviser in Kano
[email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
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