By Samuel Ogude
Following numerous challenges facing Nigeria among which are rising cost of food and insecurity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with his Vice, Kashim Shettima has held meeting with the State Governors to take Nigeria out of these challenges. The meeting which took place recently at State House had in attendance, the 36 state Governors and the Minister of the FCT, Abuja.
After extensive deliberations, the President and Governors agreed to work together to tackle the economic challenges that Nigerians face at present. According to press statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the key area that is of most important is the issue of insecurity plaguing the country as it has affected farming and food production. Going forward, President Tinubu said more police personnel are to be recruited to strengthen the force just as he said the Federal Government will work with them(Governors) and the National Assembly to ensure a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.
Tinubu also charged the Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals saying modalities for State Police and addressing security issues to be discussed further at National Economic Council.
On rising cost of food, the President directed that the State Governments and Federal Government should collaborate to increase local food production just as he advised against the idea of food importation and price control when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food.
According to the President, Governors are to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants and therefore directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Security Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.
The President therefore charged Governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products just as he pleaded with Governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue.
He urged them to spend the money on the people, and not to spend the people. President Tinubu urged Governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged, among others.
Part of statement reads:
“President advised Governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants. He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Security Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants”.