TheCable

Barau Jibrin, deputy president of the senate, is working to prevent Shoprite from leaving Kano, his home state.

Last week, Shoprite announced that it was leaving the commercial city over a “challenging economic situation” on January 14, 2024.

The retail company has been operating in Kano since 2014.

The management of Ado Bayero Mall, which houses the retail chain in Kano, said it is in talks with other retailers to replace Shoprite.

But in a statement on Monday, Ismail Mudashir, media aide to the deputy senate president, quoted his principal as saying that there are enormous business opportunities in Kano.

“The office of the Deputy President of the Senate has set machinery in place to halt the exit of Shoprite from Kano State,” the statement reads.

“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.”