The Kano Business Community has told President Bola Tinubu that the impact of subsidy removal was felt negatively by businessmen in the State.
The Chairman, Kano Business Community, Alhaji Sabiu Bako, made this known at a townhall meeting hosted by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Friday in Kano.
Bako said, “We have supported subsidy removal from the onset but we were the ones who felt it the most. It has impacted negatively on us. Our industries were closed down at some point due to the hike in the price of gas. We couldn’t afford it because the price almost tripled.
“Only a strong man can do what the President did in terms of subsidy removal, it was a good move. With this meeting, we are hopeful that our blueprint earlier submitted is going to be considered.”
The Chairman while commending the President over several efforts aimed at improving the economy and the livelihoods of the common man, also urged him to learn from the mistakes of previous intervention programmes which according to him did not reach the desired quarters.
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“We hope the Federal Government effort to achieve stabilised electricity supply will be achieved. Our industries have either closed down business or have relocated to states like Ogun and others with stable power supply.”
“Fielding out programmes that will assist our people directly will go a long way in stimulating businesses. We were marginalised in the past, interventions meant for us to benefit did not come to us. So, we hope you will learn from mistakes made in the past and this time around give us an intervention programme that will come to us directly to feel.”
Also speaking, the former President, Kano Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Dalhatu Abubakar, reechoed Bako’s points as well wished the government success in delivering its set mandate.
Responding, the Minister thanked them for not just attending the meeting but also contributing to the discourse.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will receive your requests and concerns, he is a businessman also like you. He will listen to you and make sure the problems of businesses are addressed.”