By Zainab Sani Shehu Kiru
The former chairman of Katsina State Information Forum, Alhaji Abdu Bawa Dutsinma, has expressed the need for the state government to patronize the services of the state newspaper vendors.
Alhaji Dutsinma, who is also Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, made the call while speaking to newsmen, in Dutsinma.
According to him, the call has become necessary so as to save vendorship profession from going into extinction in the state.
Alhaji Dutsinma, who is also the Sarkin Labarai Maradin Katsina, in a statement he personally signed, pointed out that, gone were the days when the state government used to actively patronize and subscribe to vendors for receiving dailies in the state.
He recalled that ministries and parastatals in the state used to receive dailies from vendors, the system they have now stopped.
He expressed the urgent need to revive the system to save vendorship profession and encourage the fast eroding reading habit.
When contacted, a member of the state vendors association, Malam Muhammad Rabi’u, confirmed the fears raised by the former chairman of the state Information Officers Forum.
Malam Rabi’u, a Chief Distributor of national dailies and magazines at the popular Sabon Layi News Stand in the state metropolis, disclosed that, only the office of the deputy governor patronized them.
He said, the near absence of the state government patronage had forced many of their members to abandon the profession and seek livelihood elsewhere.
According to him, some vendors now embrace Okada, some have turned to water vendors or truck pushers and others engaged in various menial jobs.
Malam Rabi’u, who called on Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to revive the status quo, also called on the government to include their members on any government palliatives and empowerment.
The Chief Distributor of newspapers explained that, the advent of e-newspapers, online publications as well as lack of government patronage had succeeded in suppressing vendorship profession.
According to him, Katsina state which was once vibrant with the activities of vendors that dot every roundabouts of the state, had now disappeared.
He expressed sadness that, the state that has about 35 News Stands, now has only five.
The newspaper vendor also highlighted on the need to revive the reading culture, more especially newspapers in government secondary schools and state libraries.