From Our Correspondent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, met with the 36 state governors and the FCT Minister on Nigeria’s lingering insecurity and economic hardship and came out with far-reaching decisions to tackle the issues.
TheNewsZenith reports that Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy gave a highlight of key decisions reached at the meeting in a press statement.
According to the statement, the meeting agreed to address the challenges, especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
After deliberations, Tinubu, accompanied by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, agreed to work with states to frontally address insecurity. Insecurity is adversely affecting farming and food production.
The President made three key pronouncements, which include strengthening the Police Force with the recruitment of more personnel.
Tinubu also informed the governors that the Federal Government would work with them and the National Assembly towards establishing state police, instead of the vigilantes used in some states.
He charged the governors to strengthen their forest rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals.
“Modalities for State Police and addressing security issues will be discussed further at National Economic Council,” the President reportedly said.
On the rising cost of food, Tinubu directed that Federal and State Governments should collaborate to increase local food production.
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He advised against food importation and price control “when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food”.
The President also urged governors to emulate Kano State’s example in dealing with the hoarding of food for profiteering by merchants.
He directed the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.
Tinubu asked governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production, especially poultry and fishing products.
He also charged them to ensure prompt clearing of all salary arrears and gratuities to retired workers and pensioners.
“This is a way to put money into the hands of people since states are now getting more monthly revenue.
“Spend the money, don’t spend the people,” he urged the governors.
President Tinubu further implored governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.
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