The 36 state governors have resolved to collaborate with the Federal Government to harmonise levies, eliminate illegal checkpoints, and enhance the free movement of agricultural goods across the country.
Speaking under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors made the commitment following a crucial meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and other key federal stakeholders on Thursday in Abuja.
The communique, read by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, identified unlawful taxation, the proliferation of checkpoints, and poor infrastructure as major contributors to rising food costs and inefficiencies in the national supply chain.
“The NSA noted that a high-level inter-ministerial committee has been established to address these concerns and has submitted its recommendations for the endorsement of the Forum,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He added that the governors had acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed readiness to work with federal authorities to streamline taxes and dismantle barriers to inter-state trade.
In a related development, the governors also expressed serious concerns over the World Bank’s failure to fulfill its funding commitments under the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
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According to the communique, states have already invested over $2.2 billion through NG-CARES delivery platforms, impacting more than 17 million Nigerians directly. However, the Forum noted that the World Bank has not lived up to its funding obligations under NG-CARES 1.0.
“The Forum emphasized the need for an amicable resolution between the World Bank and participating states to conclude the first phase of the programme before advancing to NG-CARES 2.0, which is designed to build long-term resilience for vulnerable households and enterprises,” the statement read.
The NGF reiterated the strategic importance of NG-CARES to states’ recovery efforts amid ongoing economic challenges and called on the World Bank to fulfill its pledges without further delay.
Thursday’s meeting, which also included the Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Transportation, forms part of a broader strategy by the federal and state governments to address Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis.
The governors’ commitment to removing trade barriers, improving rural infrastructure, and ensuring a seamless flow of agricultural produce is expected to ease supply chain bottlenecks and stabilise prices in the coming months.