Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have pledged to work with the Federal Government to remove illegal checkpoints, streamline levies, and improve the movement of goods across state lines, in a renewed effort to curb rising food prices and boost food security.
The resolution followed a meeting on Thursday between the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, alongside ministers of defence, agriculture, livestock, and transportation.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communiqué, said multiple checkpoints, illegal taxes, and dilapidated infrastructure were choking the food supply chain and driving up costs.
“The NSA presented findings from an inter-ministerial committee showing how these issues are worsening food inflation,” Sanwo-Olu said, adding that the committee’s recommendations are now before the Forum for action.
The governors also raised concerns over the World Bank’s failure to meet its funding commitments under the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme. Despite over $2.2 billion already invested by states, the Forum said unresolved issues threaten progress toward a second phase of the programme, aimed at building long-term resilience for vulnerable households and small businesses.
They called for an urgent resolution with the World Bank to conclude NG-CARES 1.0 and unlock further funding.
