A mild drama ensued in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi
State of Nigeria, on Tuesday, at the venue of
the Progressive Governors Forum with
Federal Government as Governor Aminu
Bello Masari of Katsina State and Sen. Adamu
Aliero accused Ministers of Agriculture and
Finance of issuing import licences to
unknown traders who imported 300
metrics tonnes of maize into Nigeria.
According to The Sun, Governor Masari,
while asking question at the parley, openly
accused Chief Audu Ogbeh and Mrs. Kemi
Adeosun, as being behind importers that
brought the maize from Brazil to Nigeria.
Sen. Aliero, who supported Masari, also
claimed that “We have it from a reliable
authority that your ministries issued the
licenses to them.
“This will not help our local farmers. We
have agreed that there should not be
importation of any grain into the country.”
While responding, both ministers denied the
allegation.
According to Ogbeh, “If had the power, I
would have stopped the importation of
goods into Nigeria 30 years ago. I don’t
know anything about it. My ministry don’t
know anything about it. It is the
responsibility of Customs to stop them.“
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on her part, said; “I
don’t know anything about it. One NGO
approached us to import drugs for IDPs and
we told them that they should buy in
Nigeria.“
