The Federal Government and governors of the 36 states of the federation have agreed to set up state police as the nation struggles to curtail insecurity.
The agreement was reached during an emergency meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the governors, which took place at the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was also in attendance.
While noting that both the federal and state governments are mulling the idea, Mohammed said a series of meetings are in the pipeline to determine the modalities for the setting up of the state police, noting therefore that nothing concrete has yet been determined.
Apart from security, Thursday’s meeting also dwelt on the food situation in the country with the minister disclosing that a committee had been set up to synthesize all that had been discussed at the meeting.
He said the president has directed the national security adviser, the director general of the state department of state services and the inspector general of police to coordinate with governors to end the hoarding of food commodities in the country.
The government’s spokesman also signaled that there will be no import of food commodities contrary to the position earlier taken by the federal government
He explained that the government wants to sustain the gains already made in local food production in the belief that the country can feed itself and also be a net exporter.
Full Statement
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU TO 36 STATE GOVERNORS: THERE MUST BE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR INCOMPETENCE; SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS TO BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION AND REMOVE RENT SEEKERS
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is evolving home-grown solutions to address the nation's food security challenges by setting up schemes to support local production and discourage all forms of rent-seeking that are associated with food importation.
The President made the declaration at a meeting with 36 state governors, attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and some ministers at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
On security, President Tinubu approved the establishment of a committee comprising state governors and representatives of the federal government to, among other things, explore the modalities for establishing state police.
The President further endorsed the training and equipping of forest rangers by sub-national governments to safeguard human and natural resources in local communities.
''My position at this meeting is that we must move aggressively and establish a committee to look critically at the issues raised, including the possibility of establishing state police.
''From Kano, we have read reports about large-scale hoarding of food in some warehouses. The National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services should coordinate very closely and ensure that security agencies in the states inspect such warehouses with follow up action.
''We must ensure that speculators, hoarders, and rent seekers are not allowed to sabotage our efforts in ensuring the wide availability of food to all Nigerians.
''What I will not do is to set a price control board. I will not also approve the importation of food. We should be able to get ourselves out of the situation we found ourselves in, because importation will allow rent seekers to perpetrate fraud and mismanagement at our collective expense. We would rather support farmers with the schemes that will make them go to the farm and grow more food for everyone in the country.
''We must also look at the rapid but thoughtful implementation of our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others,'' the President stated.
President Tinubu urged the governors to trust the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with the management of the country’s monetary policy, emphasizing the importance of allowing designated institutions to fulfill their mandate effectively.
He said the ''cacophony of postulations'' on the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates was unduly affecting the market negatively.
''Every one of us can not be an expert. If we have given someone an assignment, let us allow them to do it. If they can not do it, then we find a way to quickly get them out of the system,'' the President affirmed.
President Tinubu asked the governors to always make the welfare and prosperity of the people a priority of their development programmes, assuring them that the federal government will continue to work diligently to improve the nation’s revenue profile.
At the meeting, the President and the governors emphasized the importance of working together to address issues of insecurity, food security, and out-of-school children.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for convening the meeting and affirmed the governors’ commitment to partnering closely with the federal government.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 15, 2024