Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has said the decision taken by his administration to relocate drug sellers operating in Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi market to Dangwauro market presently under construction is irreversible.
He said he was sending early warning signals to those who have made their decision to stay put.
Speaking during the destruction of counterfeit and expired drugs worth N380 Million held at the headquarters of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) in Kano Tuesday, Ganduje stated that there was no justifiable premise for the drug sellers to insist that they must remain at the Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi market. He added that his government had provided an enabling environment for them to relocate to the new site.
He said:” We have understood the argument and contention of the drug sellers on why they insist they were not going in the name of relocating to the Dangwauro market currently under construction.
“I have directed the contractors handling the project to expedite action in order to hasten the relocation process. We are not going to renege on our promise and we are determined to pursue our objective to a logical conclusion.
“I am sounding this early warning to the drug sellers to understand our good intentions. They have no reason not to comply with the relocation directive. We want to have a mega market for drug transactions. I want to tell you once again that on completion of the project, you must relocate to the new site. There are no two ways about it.”
He stated further that Kano had in recent time been categorised among the top ranking illicit drugs consumption state, a rank considered as dismal and that with concerted effort, the state government was able to come down to the level that the drugs consumption pattern in the state has been reduced to the barest minimum.
While charging all paramilitary agencies in the state to see themselves as formidable partners in the fight against drug abuse and its excessive illicit consumption, the governor stated that no security agency can be indifferent to the fight at a time when his government is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with vigour.
