GOVERNORS of the 36 states of the federation rose from a meeting in the early hours of Thursday and resolved to meet Service Chiefs over the increasing spate of killings in parts of the country particularly the latest occurrence in Plateau state.
Meeting under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja, they condemned the gruesome killings and commiserated with those affected.
The Services are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Sadiq Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Ekwe Abas and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
According to the chairman of the forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, the meeting will give the governors the opportunity to make necessary inputs into how best to stem the lingering security challenges.
The governors also resolved to pay a condolence visit on the Governor Simeon Lalong and people of Plateau state.
Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, Yari stated: “We, the members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at our meeting held today at the NGF Secretariat, Abuja deliberated on several issues and resolved as follows:
The forum strongly condemned recent attacks in Plateau State and the spate of insecurity in the country. Members commiserated with the government and people of Plateau and other States including victims who were caught in transit travelling to and from neighbouring states.
“Governors unanimously called for the prosecution of the perpetrators of the attacks and resolved to find a quick and common solution to the security crisis.
“The Forum resolved to pay a condolence visit to Plateau State to commiserate with the government and people of the state.
“Governors noted with delight and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President for their quick response and visits to Plateau State to show empathy to the people of the State. We equally commend Governor Simon Lalong for the way he handled the very sad situation.
ALSO READ: Governors meet over minimum wage, Paris Club refund, others
“Governors resolved to hold a one-day meeting with the security chiefs to come up with a holistic solution to the country’s security situation.”
The governors also received a briefing from the Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) respectively.
The NCC was on the broadband deployment to expand the economic fortunes of the country while that of the NNPC was on the security of the energy sector.
Yari added: “The forum received a presentation from the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Unar Garba Danbatta on Broadband Deployment in Nigeria. Governors acknowledged the importance of broadband deployment for both economic development and revenue generation and pledged to work closely with the Commission and Infrastructure Companies to remove the impediments to broadband deployment including unifying right of way charges and addressing multiple regulation and multiple taxations.
“Following a briefing on Energy Security and Cross-border Leakages: Effects on Remittances to the Federation Account by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, represented by the Chief Executive, Downstream, NNPC, Henry Ikem Obi, and the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Mordecai Danteni Baba Ladan, represented by Team Lead, Terminal Operation, DPR, Idris Abdulraha, Governors pledged to continue to engage with the federal government, the leadership of NNPC, DPR, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other security agencies to curb hoarding, diversion, smuggling and illegal hike in ex-depot or retail pump price to safeguard Nigeria’s energy security.
“Finally, Governors reiterated their resolve to implement the PMS supply and distribution monitoring system in each State.”
