Food Crisis:Islamic Scholar Frowns Against Ransacking Foodstuff Vehicles
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ullamas, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil,has frowned against ransacking vehicles carrying foodstuff by some Nigerians, describing the act as unIslamic.
Sheikh Khalil,who made the remark during a meeting of the Forum of Kano State Business Community held on Sunday in Kano, warned that the practice is an affront to the Islamic religion.
He said the act clearly negates Islamic teachings and that the Ullamas would use their sermons at their respective Jumma’at Mosques to condemn it and to urge the culprits to desist from such.
He said failure of the Business Community and the Ullamas to create ways and means of reducing the economic hardships among their followers largely created the situation where people break stores and ambush vehicles carrying food items.
“Therefore, this Forum would surely work extra mile to ensure that the Business Community wakes up from its slumber and begin to do the needful in terms of poverty eradication among the ordinary citizens,” the Cleric said.
In his remarks,Sunusi Umar Atta,the Sarkin Kasuwar Kwari, called for the establishment of a road map that would lead the State to commercial viability.
Atta said this is imperative because all their activities are being done “without concrete vision, and whatever the State will do without a clear vision it will be an exercise in futility.”
On his part,the President National Traders Harmonization Union, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, called for strong unity and understanding among members of the community, warning that without such, whatever they would do would be fruitless.
Also speaking,Alhaji Mutaka Isa, Chairman Dawanau Grains Market Association, commended the efforts of the Ullamas in enlightening the public on the realities and problems associated with the supply and sales of grains in the market.
Isa expressed fears of what would become of the price of maize after the fasting period, as the commodity currently sells at N68,000 per bag, and called for an urgent solution to the problem.
The Chairman, Singer Provisions Stores, Barrister Juniadu Muhammad Zakari, called for the establishment of new industrial sites to boost production of goods and employment in the state.
Zakari expressed worry that many of their members have not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC),which he said,made the Traders unable to secure the support of the Federal Government and Global donors.
Because of this,he said, the Council of Ullamas had secured the CAC attention to go to the traders in their locations and register them.
Alhaji Sabiu Bako on his part, alleged that President Tinubu had refused to adhere to the blueprints given to him by the Kano Business Community despite several follow-ups, but that they would continue to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
The State Council of Ullamas and the State Business Community created the Forum to tackle the backwardness of the State in Commercial and Economic Growth.
The Forum has the representation of leaders of the state’s main Markets of Singer Provisions Market, Dawanau Grains Market, Kwari Textile Market and Sabon Gari General Market, while the Kano Chairman of the Council of Ullamas, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil is the leader of the group.
