Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi and the leadership of the Amalgamated Union of Food and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AFUCDN) met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.

Addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, the governor said he briefed the chief of staff on the union’s decision to call off its strike.

He said members of the union had agreed to resume foodstuff and cattle supply to the country’s southern parts.

The governor, accompanied by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, expressed optimism that the union’s demands would be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for prompt action.

He said, “I have got the commitment of the union, in order for us not to continue to have this hardship across the country, to lift the ban on food and livestock transportation to the South.

“I have also got a major commitment from people from the South not to attack people of Hausa/Fulani and the traders in the South and that the criminals among them, irrespective of tribe and religion, should be handed over to law enforcement agents.

“I have also gotten the commitment that their lives and properties will be protected. So, these are the messages we brought to the chief of staff to convey to the president.”

Mr. Bello also spoke on the demands which the traders wanted the president to meet.

“Number one demand is to ensure that their goods and the lives of their members anywhere in the country are safe. On this note, we have brought the demands to Mr. President through the chief of staff and how we’ve been able to resolve the matter. The chief of staff is going to convey the message to Mr. President.

“The association demanded that its members that are killed; they are requiring that compensation be paid for the lives and livelihood that were destroyed in the South,” he added.