Tinubu Leads Governors To Address Food Prices, Insecurity, And Others

President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima has convened a meeting with the 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting aimed to address major issues including the soaring prices of food items, insecurity, and the delayed or non-payment of salaries and gratuities owed to workers, retirees, and pensioners.

The gathering stressed by a tweet from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, and a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized President Tinubu's commitment to tackling these challenges.

Regarding insecurity affecting farming and food production, President Tinubu made several key announcements. Firstly, he revealed plans to recruit additional police personnel to bolster the force. Secondly, he disclosed intentions to collaborate with the Governors and the National Assembly to establish a framework for state police, replacing vigilante groups in some states. Thirdly, he urged Governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and equip them to safeguard all forests from criminal activities, with further discussions on these modalities slated for the National Economic Council.

In response to the escalating cost of food, President Tinubu directed State and Federal Governments to collaborate in boosting local food production. He warned against food importation and advocated for empowering local producers to increase output. The President also praised Kano State's approach to curbing food hoarding for profit and instructed security agencies to monitor warehouses keeping food items nationwide to prevent profiteering.

Furthermore, President Tinubu urged Governors to focus on livestock development, particularly in poultry and fishing, to boost production. He also urged them to prioritize clearing salary arrears and gratuities to inject funds into the economy, advising against spending on commodities over people.

Finally, President Tinubu encouraged Governors to create more economic opportunities for youth engagement and productivity in their states.