The Sultan, who decried the hunger in the land, said while change is a process that is “very difficult”, there is a limit to how much pain and hunger the people can endure.
Alhaji Abubakar expressed these views yesterday while receiving the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd.) in his palace in Sokoto.
He also urged the federal government to reconsider its policy on rice importation across the land borders to mitigate the hunger in the country, saying this had been the cry of the masses whom they were close to.
“We know that change is very difficult, especially changing things that suffered decades of negligence and destruction. We have been telling people to be patient with this government but there is limit to that appeal when there is hunger, when people are hungry”, he said.
In a related development, the State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, lamented the high cost of food items in the country, recommending special palliatives to cushion its effect.
“We support government policy and when there is difficulty we seek for its review”, he told Mr. Ali.
While granting interview to newsmen, the Comptroller General said calls for the review of the policy on rice importation was not something that could be changed by the Nigeria Customs Service.
He, however, assured the Sultan and Gov. Tambuwal that he would take their demands to the federal government.
Earlier, CG. Ali said he was in Sokoto to condole with the government and the people of the state over the killing of a 20-year old suspected smuggler, Shu’aibu Lawali by a custom officer at Gwadabawa area about four months ago.
