Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State summoned an expanded emergency security council meeting on Friday to find solutions to the economic hardship and insecurity in the state.

The expanded security council meeting included heads of security agencies, emirs of Katsina and Daura, relevant government officials, religious leaders, traders associations, and local government chairs, among others.

Mr Radda said the meeting was to take proactive measures to avert the protests in other states over intolerable economic hardship.

“It is unfortunate that prices of food items and other essential commodities have been increasing daily. Hence, there is a need for stakeholders to offer useful advice on the problem.

“I was told that foodstuffs are being transported from our markets to neighbouring countries like Niger, then to Mali and Burkina Faso, because our naira has been depreciating while their currencies are gaining value.

“Such people are taking that opportunity at the detriment of the poor. That is a great problem which we cannot fold our arms and allow it to continue,” he said.

Peoples Gazette, on Monday, reported that protesters hit the streets of Minna, Niger state capital, lamenting the rising cost of food and severe hunger in the country under President Bola Tinubu’s watch.

(NAN)