Insecurity, Inflation: Nigeria Governors holds meeting with Nuhu Ribadu (NSA)
The governors promised to help the NSA office in the states improve the nature and quality of intelligence.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) met with Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, to discuss the country’s security condition as well as the rising cost of staple goods.
During the discussion, which included a representative from the Department of State Services (DSS), the governors promised to help the NSA office in their states improve the nature and quality of intelligence.
They also advocated for reducing foreign exchange demand through moral suasion in order to lessen reliance on foreign exchange, imported commodities, and services, thereby addressing the country’s existing security position and food security.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Thursday by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, following the first emergency virtual meeting of 2024.
According to the statement, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to deploying emergency food interventions, such as incentivizing food production, releasing food items from strategic food reserves, and collaborating with food millers and commodity traders in their respective states to increase food availability as an immediate short-term action.
The statement read:
“We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our emergency virtual meeting held the 6th February, 2024 following a briefing by National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the representative of the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), deliberated on the security situation and food stability in the country and resolved as follows:
“Recognised the need to address the connection between food inflation, naira depreciation and rising insecurity across parts of the country from a systemic perspective and called for urgent discussions with and synergy amongst stakeholders in improving the situation in the shortest possible time.
“Agreed on the following immediate actions: Reduce Foreign Exchange Demand: by use of moral suasion to reduce dependence on foreign exchange, imported goods and services. Improve Foreign Exchange Supply: by easing commodity export requirements to encourage exportation and supply of foreign exchange; Curbing illegal export of solid minerals; and increasing crude oil production to earn more foreign exchange.
“Support improved Enforcement efforts: by reviewing the extant criminal justice laws in the States to ensure quick dispensation of justice on perpetrators of insecurity in the States; supporting the office of the National Security Adviser in the States to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence.
“Reiterated Governors’ commitment to deploying emergency food interventions, including incentivizing food production, release of food items from strategic food reserves and collaboration with food millers and commodity traders in their various States to boost food availability as an immediate short-term action.”