Food Crisis: Governors, FG Unite to Dismantle Illegal Checkpoints, Streamline Levies

In a coordinated effort to tackle the rising cost of food and ease the movement of goods across Nigeria, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has resolved to collaborate with the federal government to streamline levies and dismantle unauthorised checkpoints.

This resolution was made on Wednesday during a meeting at the NGF secretariat in Abuja. The governors were briefed by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, who was joined by key ministers including Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (Defence), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Abubakar Kyari (Agriculture and Food Security), and Said Alkali (Transportation).

The high-level briefing focused on challenges affecting food and livestock transportation. In a communique issued after the meeting, the NGF identified “proliferation of checkpoints, illegal taxation, and poor infrastructure” as major drivers of inflation and inefficiencies within the food supply chain.

“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 communique stated.

The Forum also received a presentation from the World Bank on the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme. While noting that the initiative had reached over 17 million direct beneficiaries, the governors raised concerns over delayed disbursement of pledged funds.

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“Governors expressed concern over the non fulfilment of funding pledges by the Bank under NG-CARES 1.0,” the communique noted, urging an “amicable resolution between the World Bank and participating states” before proceeding to the next phase, NG-CARES 2.0.

The communique was signed by Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, NGF chairman and Kwara State governor.