By Charles Pemu 
Amid rising food inflation, Nigeria’s 36 state governors have agreed to work with the Federal Government to harmonize levies, dismantle illegal checkpoints, and boost the movement of goods across the country.
The resolution followed meetings between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside ministers of defence, agriculture, and transport.
The governors acknowledged that illegal taxation, security issues, and poor infrastructure are driving food price hikes and disrupting supply chains.
“The Forum is committed to eliminating barriers to food transportation and supporting security efforts to safeguard lives and livelihoods,” Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said on behalf of the NGF.
The meeting also raised concerns over the World Bank’s delay in disbursing funds under the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, despite over $2.2 billion invested by states, impacting more than 17 million beneficiaries.
Separately, Imo State Governor and PGF Chairman, Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed governors’ support for President Tinubu’s proposed state-level security model, citing its success in Imo.
This comes after the recent massacre in Benue’s Yelewata community, which left nearly 200 people dead, prompting President Tinubu’s visit and calls for urgent security reforms.