By Abdulrahman Aliagan, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the Vice President Kashim Shettima held a crucial meeting with the 36 states governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,Nyesome Wike yesterday at the State House to find lasting solutions to Nigeria’s national problems. The focus of the meeting was to address the rising cost of food and the prevailing insecurity in the country.
This was disclosed in a tweet posted on X by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga
During the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the need for a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments to tackle these issues and alleviate the economic pressure faced by Nigerian citizens. Among the key highlights of the meeting were:
To address the issue of insecurity, President Tinubu made three key pronouncements. Firstly, he announced the recruitment of more police personnel to strengthen the force.
Secondly, he informed the governors that the federal government would work with them and the National Assembly to establish a mechanism for state police, as an alternative to the vigilantes currently being used in some states.
Thirdly, the President urged the governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to ensure the safety of all forests from criminals. The modalities for implementing state police and addressing security concerns would be further discussed at the National Economic Council. Tinubu said.
Regarding the rising cost of food, President Tinubu directed the state and federal governments to collaborate in order to increase local food production. He cautioned against food importation and price control, stressing the importance of encouraging local food producers to enhance their output.
President Tinubu also advised the governors to combat the hoarding of food for profiteering, using Kano State as an example. He instructed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, and the Department of State Services to monitor the warehouses across the country and stop the profiteering by merchants.
Furthermore, the President urged the governors to focus on livestock development, particularly in poultry and fishing industries. He stressed the need to increase production in these areas to boost the availability and affordability of these food items.
President Tinubu pleaded with the governors to prioritize the payment of salary arrears, gratuities, and pensions. He emphasized that clearing these outstanding payments would inject more money into the hands of the people, especially since states were now receiving more monthly Federal Accounts Allocation Committee revenue. The President urged the governors to spend the money wisely and avoid spending the people.
The President implored the governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their respective states. By providing avenues for productive engagement, they could ensure that the youth population is empowered and contributing positively to the nation’s growth and development.
The meeting between President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the 36 states governors served as a platform to address the pressing challenges faced by Nigeria. The government’s commitment to recruiting more police personnel, establishing state police, increasing food production, and addressing salary arrears, amongst other measures, are all steps taken towards finding lasting solutions to these issues and securing a brighter future for Nigeria.