Governors have resolved to implement measures to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship on citizens and raise foreign exchange earnings.
The governors came up with the resolution at an emergency virtual meeting of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) held on February 6.
In a communiqué after the meeting by the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State,
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors also considered ways to address rising insecurity.
Part of the communique reads: “Following a briefing by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the representative of the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), members deliberated on the security situation and food stability in the country and resolved as follows:
“Recognised the need to address the connection between food inflation, naira depreciation, and rising insecurity across parts of the country from a systemic perspective and called for urgent discussions with and synergy amongst stakeholders in improving the situation in the shortest possible time.”
The governors agreed to reduce foreign exchange demand by using moral suasion to reduce dependence on foreign exchange, imported goods, and services.
They also agreed to work on ways to improve foreign exchange supply by easing commodity export requirements to encourage export and supply of foreign exchange, curbing illegal export of solid minerals, and increasing crude oil production to earn more foreign exchange.
The Governors resolved to support improved enforcement efforts by reviewing the extant criminal
justice laws in the states to ensure quick dispensation of justice to perpetrators of insecurity in the states.
They resolved to work with the office of the National Security Adviser in the States to enhance the nature and quality of intelligence.
