The 36 state governors have pledged to collaborate with the Federal Government to harmonise levies, dismantle illegal checkpoints, and enhance the free movement of food and goods across the country in a renewed push to combat food insecurity and rising prices.
Speaking under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors made the commitment after a meeting with National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and other key stakeholders in Abuja on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Reading from a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the NGF identified illegal levies, excessive checkpoints, and poor infrastructure as key contributors to food price inflation and disruption of supply chains.
“The Forum received a briefing from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, accompanied by the Honourable Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Transportation, on the rising cost of food and livestock transportation across the country,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He added that the NSA had informed the governors that a high-level inter-ministerial committee had been established to address these issues and had submitted its recommendations for the Forum’s consideration.
According to the NGF, the governors acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed commitment to working with federal authorities to streamline levies, remove unauthorised checkpoints, and ease inter-state movement of goods to stabilise food supply.
On the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, the NGF voiced dissatisfaction with the World Bank over what it described as a failure to fulfill financial commitments under the initiative.
Sanwo-Olu revealed that states have so far invested over $2.2 billion through NG-CARES platforms, positively impacting more than 17 million direct beneficiaries.
“The Forum received a presentation from the World Bank on NG-CARES. Governors expressed concern over the non-fulfilment of funding pledges under NG-CARES 1.0 and emphasized the need for an amicable resolution with the Bank to wrap up the first phase before proceeding to NG-CARES 2.0, which is aimed at building long-term resilience for vulnerable households and businesses,” the communiqué noted.