Recognizing the urgent need for action, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is joining forces to confront the dual challenges of food instability, and insecurity that have gripped the country.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Forum, Abdulraque Barkindo, made available to ASHENEWS on Thursday, the governors met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the interwoven link between the trio of food inflation, escalating cross-country insecurity, and currency depreciation.
Noting the danger in the continued interplay between these, Ribadu emphasized the need for a systemic approach and called for urgent discussions and collaboration among stakeholders to tackle these pressing issues quickly.
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The governors agreed on immediate actions, including reducing foreign exchange demand through moral persuasion to lessen reliance on imported goods and services, to mitigate the challenges.
The meeting further assured that efforts would be made to enhance foreign exchange supply by easing commodity export requirements, curbing illegal solid minerals exports, and increasing crude oil production to bolster foreign exchange earnings.
According to the statement, governments will focus on bolstering enforcement efforts by reviewing criminal justice laws to ensure swift justice for perpetrators of insecurity, while stressing the need for the support of the NSA’s office in enhancing intelligence quality and nature at the state level.
The Forum further reiterated its commitment to implement emergency food interventions, including incentivizing food production, the release of food items from strategic reserves, and collaborating with food millers and commodity traders to enhance food availability in various states, thus addressing the immediate food stability crisis.
