- Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, mobilizes efforts to prevent the closure of Shoprite in Kano State
- Senator Barau plans to meet with Shoprite’s management to discuss and address the reasons behind the supermarket chain’s exit
Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy President of the Senate, is mobilizing efforts to prevent the closure of Shoprite, a prominent Nigerian supermarket chain, in Kano State. The only Shoprite branch in Kano, situated in the renowned Ado Bayero Mall, had recently announced its decision to exit the commercial hub in January, citing a “challenging economic situation.”
The move by Shoprite has generated mixed reactions, prompting Senator Barau to intervene. In a statement released by Ismail Mudashir, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senator Barau, it was revealed that the Deputy President of the Senate plans to meet with the company’s management in Abuja this week to address the issue.
“The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has set machinery in place to halt the exit of Shoprite from Kano State. His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CON, will meet with the management of the company this week where the issue will be discussed and hopefully resolved.
Yes, it is a pure business issue, but we will see what we can do to encourage them to rescind their decision and stay in Kano. As we all know, there are enormous business opportunities in Kano, the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria. At a time when we are scouting for investors, we will not fold our hands and allow them to leave,” stated Mudashir.
The intervention by Senator Barau underscores the significance of preserving business interests in Kano and highlights the potential for substantial economic opportunities in the region. The meeting between Senator Barau and Shoprite’s management aims to explore avenues to encourage the company to reconsider its decision and maintain its presence in Kano.