…food prices, economic crisis, insecurity top agenda
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday chaired the second National Economic Council (NEC) meeting where over twenty Nigerian State Governors were present under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to discuss the state of the nation amid an increase in food prices, economic crisis, and insecurity ravaging the nation.
The meeting which began after the President arrived at the Council chamber of Aso Rock Villa at exactly 11:34 am, also had Vice-President Kashim Shettima; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribaddu; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director of State Secret Service in attendance.
Thursday’s meeting is the second gathering with the state executives since the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) on June 15, 2023. It serves as a wake-up call to the recent hike in food prices, economic hardship, and pockets of insecurity recorded nationwide.
Recall that some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently lamented the state of the nation comparing Nigeria’s economic crisis to that of Venezuela where hyperinflation, escalating starvation, crime, and high mortality rates are the order of the day.
Similarly, the Organised Labour had decried the economic situation in the country, threatening to go on indefinite strike by February 23, if the Federal Government failed to fulfil their promises and other assistance to mitigate the economic pains on workers nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Presidency criticised the performance of those governors, stating their inability to succeed in paying salaries, pensions, and the N30,000 minimum wage despite the increase in their monthly allocation.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale mentioned that the Tinubu-led administration is evolving home-grown solutions to address the nation’s food security challenges by setting up schemes to support local production and discourage all forms of rent-seeking that are associated with food importation.
While addressing the security concerns of the nation, President Tinubu approved the establishment of a committee comprising state governors and representatives of the federal government to, among other things, explore the modalities for establishing state police.
The President further endorsed the training and equipping of forest rangers by sub-national governments to safeguard human and natural resources in local communities.
“’My position at this meeting is that we must move aggressively and establish a committee to look critically at the issues raised, including the possibility of establishing state police.
‘“From Kano, we have read reports about large-scale hoarding of food in some warehouses. The National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services should coordinate very closely and ensure that security agencies in the states inspect such warehouses with follow-up action.
“We must ensure that speculators, hoarders, and rent seekers are not allowed to sabotage our efforts in ensuring the wide availability of food to all Nigerians.
“What I will not do is to set a price control board. I will not also approve the importation of food. We should be able to get ourselves out of the situation we found ourselves in because importation will allow rent seekers to perpetrate fraud and mismanagement at our collective expense. We would rather support farmers with the schemes that will make them go to the farm and grow more food for everyone in the country.
“We must also look at the rapid but thoughtful implementation of our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others,” the President stated.
State Governors present at the second NEC meeting are those of Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Imo, Hope Uzodinma; Borno, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Rivers, Sim Fubara; Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji; Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, and Anambra Prof. Charles Soludo.
Others are the Governors of Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang; Kadune, Uba Sani; Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri; Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Kogi, Ahmed Ododo; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Niger, Mohammed Bago; Abia, Alex Otti; Enugu, Peter Mbah; Benue, Hyacinth Alia, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Governors of Delta, Baunch, Oyo, Zamfara, Sokoto , and Kano were conspicuously absent and represented by their deputies.
Ministers of the Feder Capital Territory, Nyezom Wike; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari; and Information, Mohammed Idris, were also present.