By Haruna Gimba
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the State Governments and the Federal Government should collaborate to increase local food production.
President Tinubu had in company of Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House met with the 36 States Governors and the FCT Minister over food crisis and inflation.
The meeting agreed on common ground to addressing some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
After extensive deliberations the President Tinubu and the 36 States Governors agreed to work together to solve the problems and tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the president made three key pronouncements on addressing insecurity which is also affecting farming and food production.
“More police personnel to be recruited to strengthen the force. President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.
“He urged the governors to strengthen their Forest Rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals and modalities for State Police and addressing security issues to be discussed further at National Economic Council,” the statement said.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu advised the governors to follow the example of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants.
He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.
“The president charged the governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products.
“President Tinubu pleaded with the governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, gratuities to retired workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue. Spend the money, don’t spend the people,” he urged the governors.
The statement added that President Tinubu implored Governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.
