Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have resolved to dismantle illegal roadblocks and eliminate multiple taxation practices across the country in a bid to tackle rising food inflation and improve the movement of goods.
The resolution was reached at an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held in Abuja, which ended in the early hours of Thursday.
Reading the communiqué on behalf of the forum, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the governors agreed that illegal checkpoints and excessive levies are worsening food prices and disrupting the supply chain.
The communiqué, signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, followed a joint briefing from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Ministers of Defence, Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Transportation.
According to the communiqué, the presentation highlighted how the proliferation of unauthorized checkpoints, illegal taxation, and poor infrastructure contribute significantly to inflation and inefficiencies in the distribution of food and livestock.
The NSA 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 endorsement.
“Governors acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed commitment to collaborate with federal authorities to streamline levies, dismantle unauthorized checkpoints, and improve the movement of goods across states,” the communiqué stated.
NSA Ribadu declined to comment publicly on the outcome of the meeting.
The emergency session was convened amid rising insecurity across several parts of the country, with growing public pressure on both state and federal governments to take coordinated and effective action.
