In order to address food inflation, the depreciation of the naira, and the growing insecurity in various regions of the nation, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has called for an urgent discussion among stakeholders.
Following its emergency virtual meeting, the NGF issued the call in a communiqué released on Thursday by its chairman, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.Speaking about the country’s food security and security conditions, the forum members included AbdulRazaq.
He said that the Director-General of the Department of State Service, who was representing the department, and Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, briefed the governors present.
We all agreed that, from a systemic standpoint, it is critical to address the relationship between rising levels of insecurity throughout the nation, depreciating nairas, and food inflation.
Additionally, he stated that the governors had decided on immediate measures, such as lowering the demand for foreign currency through the use of moral persuasion to lessen reliance on imported goods and services and foreign currency.
Among the others, he mentioned boosting the supply of foreign exchange by reducing the restrictions on commodity exports in order to promote exports and the creation of foreign exchange.
In order to obtain more foreign exchange, he added, such immediate action should also be accomplished by reducing the illicit export of solid minerals and raising the output of crude oil.
“We pledged support to the office of the National Security Adviser in the states to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence,” he said. “We said that there was a need to support improved enforcement efforts,” he said. This included reviewing the state’s current criminal justice laws to ensure that those who cause insecurity in the state face justice promptly.
AbdulRazaq restated the governors’ resolve to implement emergency food interventions, such as the issuance of food releases from strategic reserves, food production, and incentives.