•As Tinubu orders IGP, DSS, NSA to go after food hoarders
To combat the nation’s growing security concerns , the Federal Government has hinted of a likelihood of embracing state police even as it has given security agents marching orders to go after individuals hording foods.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure to State House Correspondents yesterday after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and governors at the Presidential Villa.
The Minister was joined at the briefing by Govs Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ubah Sani (Kaduna) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).
According to him, the possibility of state police will be further discussed.
He added that a lot of work needs to be done, and the president and governors have agreed to work out the modalities.
While noting that both the federal and state governments were mulling the idea, Idris said series of meetings were in the pipeline to determine the modalities for the setting up of the state police, noting that nothing concrete has yet been determined.
Recall that the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, presented a bill for the creation of state police in both the Eighth and Ninth NASS, but the proposals never saw the light of the day. His efforts were frustrated on each occasion.
Idris also revealed that a committee has been set up to synthesize all that had been discussed at the meeting.
On food crisis , the minister said the president has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to work with governors to end hoarding of food commodities in the country.
According to the minister, President Tinubu has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Director General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to work with governors to immediately check the activities of those hoarding food items with intention to smuggle them out or make extra profits from the resulting scarcity.
The meeting decided to have the state governments increase the number and activities of forest rangers to improve security for farmers; deepen investments in food production, and do more to get the youths more gainfully employed.
In addition, the minister said that in contrast to the Federal Government’s previous stance, no food commodities would be imported.
He clarified that in order for the nation to be both self-sufficient and a net exporter, the government hopes to maintain the progress already made in local food production.
Idris said: “Recall that this meeting was at the instance of Mr. President to intimate the state governors about what is happening, and what the Federal Government is doing, and to also hear from the state governors, their input about issues of development in this country.
“A lot of issues were discussed about the security situation in the country. The apparent food issue that the media have also been reporting about and some other measures that will help in improving the state of our nation.
“Now, the first point is that the governors and Mr. President have agreed to set up a committee to deepen the conversation that has happened at the just-concluded meeting. Of course, you know that it is impossible to complete most of the issues that were raised at the meeting, so it is going to be a continuous one.
“Secondly, Mr. President and the governors have agreed that these kinds of meetings will continue in the interest of our nation.
“It is important that at all time, the Federal Government and the state governors, who are leaders at the subnational level, continue to engage and interact collectively, so that issues of national importance will continue to be addressed, and we don’t leave room for any speculation or for people who may seize the opportunity to say things that are not in the interest of our country.
“First, the National Security Adviser, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Inspector General of Police have been directed to work with the state governors to look at the issue of those hoarding commodities.
“At this point, the nation requires food to be brought out to the people, so that we can control prices and put food on the table of most Nigerians. Other commodity traders are busy hoarding these commodities, so that Nigerians will suffer, or they will make more money as a result.
“So, the governors and Mr. President have taken this decision that security agencies will collaborate with the state governors to ensure that this ends.
“Number two, a decision has also been taken that in the interest of our country, there will be no need for food importation at this point. Nigeria has the potential to feed itself and even be a net exporter of food items to other countries. And we do not also want to reverse some of the progress we have seen in terms of food production in this country.
“What we’re seeing now is just a temporary difficulty that will soon go away. Therefore, the solution to it is by continuous investment in agriculture, so that food can be made available to all Nigerians.
“Of course, you know that Mr. President has declared emergency in agriculture many months ago. Therefore, part of the measures that he has taken is to ensure that more investments are made in this sector for the benefit of our people.
“The governors have also agreed to join hands with Mr. President to deepen their own investment in the agricultural sector, so that more food will be made available to Nigerians. Of course, this investment is not just in crop production, it is also in livestock development and management.
“All these are to ensure that food is available in the area of security. Mr President and the state governors have also agreed that at this point, we are seeing significant improvement in the security situation around the country.
“This is not to say that the security situation has been solved completely. But, we have seen significant improvement. In Borno, for example, areas where farmers have not been able to cultivate as a result of insecurity, those farmers have now returned to their farms. It is also the same thing in Jigawa and many parts of the country. The governors, including the Governor of Plateau State, have also attested to the fact that despite all the challenges that we’re having, there appears to be improvement in security in these areas.
“Of course, as I said, the situation has not been completely solved. But, we are seeing a positive movement towards a secure Nigeria.
“Mr. President and the governors also thank the security agencies for the work they are doing. Some of them even pay the supreme price with their lives to ensure that Nigerians have a secure environment. They have thanked Mr. president for all that he’s doing. And they have also asked him to do more, so that at the end of the day, we will have a completely secured Nigeria.
“Now, in this direction, Mr. President and the state governors have also discussed the possibility of improving the numeric strength of forest rangers to train them, so that they can keep our forests and our borders very safe.
“There is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The Federal Government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police.
“Of course, this is still going to be further discussed. A lot of work has to be done in that direction. Both the federal government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police. Now, this is a significant shift. But like I said, more work needs to be done in that direction.
“At the end of it all. The 36 state governors and Mr. President are all on one page, irrespective of political differences to ensure that Nigeria remains peaceful, united and prosperous, going forward. And this kind of conversation, like I said, will continue to be deepened. Engagements between the Federal Government and the state governors will continue.”