To address the ongoing economic challenges and food crises within their states, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) announced that the 36 state governors are implementing various strategies and measures.
Recall that in February, President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting with state governors in Abuja at the Presidential Villa, urging them to prioritize resolving the economic and food crises.
Following that meeting, the NGF released a report on Sunday by its Acting Head of Media, Halimah Salihu Ahmed. The report stated the governors’ commitment to alleviating the suffering of citizens nationwide.
According to the NGF report, Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, along with Governors Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi), are advocating for increased crop production. They plan to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to tackle food shortages.
The NGF’s Acting Head of Media also revealed plans in Akwa Ibom to establish a state agency to buy and sell food items at lower prices.
Similarly, authorities in Kano and Yobe cracked down on food hoarding by banning bulk purchases and exports.
AgroNigeria gathered that Governors Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger) and Peter Mbah (Enugu) are reported to be working diligently to eliminate hunger and poverty through investments in agriculture and rural economic development.
According to the released statement: “In Kano State, authorities raided warehouses suspected of storing hoarded food supplies.
“The Yobe State government banned bulk purchases of grain from local markets to prevent hoarding and exports across Nigeria’s borders, aiming to ‘stem the tide of food scarcity and high cost of grains.
“Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago announced a ban on the mass purchase of foodstuffs from local markets. He ordered security forces to confiscate trucks carrying products in bulk and share the food with the people.
“In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah said his administration would eradicate hunger and poverty in the state and unlock the rural economy through investment in agriculture and agro-industrialization.”
“Last week in Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal met with the Swedish Ambassador, Annika Hahn-Englund, to discuss partnerships for growing the state’s economy and addressing current hardships.”
The report further stated that Governor Abdulrazaq expressed concerns about the previous Anchor Borrowers Programme implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The NGF chairman was quoted as saying: “We couldn’t achieve much with the CBN Anchor Borrowers program; it was very challenging. Food security is a complex issue, and we need to focus on effective solutions. We need to concentrate on what we’re doing for dry season farming.
“The minister has proposed a program focused on cassava, rice, and maize. We want to participate in that program and urgently improve yields to deliver food security for the Nigerian population.
“Our goal is to become a food exporter. Due to the devaluation of the naira, Nigerian food is currently the cheapest in West Africa and is being exported to neighboring countries.
“The governors have recognized that we have a new Ministry of Agriculture. Engagement with the previous ministry over the past four years was not very productive.”
