The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF have alleged that the proliferation of checkpoints, illegal taxation and poor infrastructure are key contributors to price inflation and inefficiencies in food supply chain across the country.
The Governors made the commitment after their meeting in Abuja, in a communique signed by the forum Chairman and Governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and read by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu while giving update on the closed meeting held with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abuubakar, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali also expressed the Forum’s displeasure over World Bank’s failure to fulfill its own part of the agreement reached on NG-CARES, despite participating States’ $2.2 billion investment into the scheme.
The communique reads: “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country.
“The Forum received a briefing from the National Security Adviser (NSA), accompanied by the Honourable Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Transportation, on the rising cost of food and livestock transportation across the country.
“The presentation revealed that the proliferation of checkpoints, illegal taxation, and poor infrastructure are key contributors to price inflation and inefficiencies in the food supply chain.
“The NSA noted that a high-level inter-ministerial committee has been established to address these concerns and has submitted its recommendations for the endorsement of the Forum.
“Governors acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed commitment to collaborate with federal authorities to streamline levies, dismantle unauthorized checkpoints, and improve the movement of goods, especially food items across the States.
“The Forum received a presentation from the World Bank on the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus which is called (NG-CARES) programme.
“The Bank highlighted that states have made significant investments totaling over US$2.2 billion through the NG-CARES delivery platforms, with verifiable impacts reaching over 17 million direct beneficiaries.
“Governors thereby expressed concern over the non-fulfilment of funding pledges by the Bank under NG-CARES 1.0”
“The Forum emphasized the need for an amicable resolution between the World Bank and participating States to conclude the first phase of the programme before advancing to NG-CARES 2.0, which is designed to build a long-term resilience for vulnerable households and enterprises,” Governor Sanwo-Olu noted.
The some of the governors in attendance were Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Kwara, Osun, Plateau, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kogi, Ondo, Imo, Cross River, Ogun, and Edo State.
With the issues of insecurity in the country, especially the latest killings in Yelewata, and other parts of Benue State North-Central Nigeria recalled that the Nigerian President, visited the State and has directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest killer herders who perpetrated the heinous killing of over 100 people in Yelewata community in Benue.
President Tinubu called out the Inspector General of Police to know why arrests had not been made.
He also urged the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.
Olusola Akintonde