5 Key Takeaways from Tinubu’s Meeting with the 36 Governors

In response to the worsening food crisis and rising inflation in Nigeria, the 36 state governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) met with President Bola Tinubu and key federal officials in Abuja to chart a unified way forward.

The meeting, held on May 19, 2025, brought together high-level stakeholders, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and ministers from the Ministries of Agriculture, Defence, Transportation, and Livestock Development.

At the heart of the conversation was the urgent need to address food price inflation, improve the smooth movement of goods across the country, and ensure a more efficient food supply chain.

In their communique, read by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governors identified critical bottlenecks. They pledged to work closely with the Federal Government to remove the barriers hurting Nigeria’s food economy.

1. Tackling Illegal Checkpoints and Harmonising Levies

One of the most pressing issues discussed at the meeting was the proliferation of illegal checkpoints and multiple tax levies along interstate routes. These obstacles, the governors acknowledged, have significantly disrupted the smooth transportation of food and livestock, increasing costs and worsening inflation.

The governors agreed to work with federal authorities to harmonise levies and dismantle unauthorised checkpoints across the country. The goal is to eliminate the exploitation of farmers, food vendors, and transporters by local agents and security personnel who often demand unofficial payments at state borders.

“Many of these roadblocks are not only illegal but unnecessary. They create artificial scarcity, delay the movement of goods, and ultimately drive up the cost of food,” Governor Sanwo-Olu noted during the briefing.

2. Improving Infrastructure for Better Food Movement

Beyond levies and checkpoints, poor infrastructure, particularly inadequate roads and logistics systems, was identified as a major contributor to food loss and supply chain inefficiencies.

Governors agreed on the need to invest in rural roads, storage systems, and transportation infrastructure to facilitate the seamless movement of agricultural produce from farms to markets.

Several states are now expected to collaborate with the Ministries of Transportation and Works to prioritise repairs on critical routes used for food transport.

“Without good roads and storage facilities, even the best agricultural output will never reach the people in good condition or at fair prices,” said Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who chairs the NGF.

3. Inter-Ministerial Committee to Monitor Implementation

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu informed the Forum that a high-level inter-ministerial committee has already been established to address the identified issues.

The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture, Defence, Transportation, and Livestock, has submitted a set of recommendations to the NGF for endorsement and action.

This task force will coordinate responses between federal and state actors, monitor the dismantling of checkpoints, and track progress on supply chain improvements.

“This committee is not for show, it is meant to deliver results quickly,” Ribadu stated. “We are looking at real-time data and holding stakeholders accountable for removing barriers that affect food availability.”

4. World Bank’s Delayed Support for NG‑CARES Programme

The governors also raised concerns over delays in disbursement under the Nigeria Community Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG‑CARES) programme, a World Bank-supported initiative designed to cushion economic shocks and support food security.

According to the communique, Nigerian states have collectively invested over $2.2 billion through NG‑CARES, impacting over 17 million direct beneficiaries. However, many of the World Bank’s funding promises under NG‑CARES 1.0 remain unfulfilled.

The NGF urged an immediate resolution between the World Bank and state governments to facilitate a smooth transition to NG-CARES 2.0, which will focus on building long-term resilience for vulnerable households and small businesses.

“States have done their part. Now we expect our partners to meet their side of the agreement so we can continue to deliver real impact at the grassroots,” Sanwo-Olu said.

5. Strengthened Federal-State Collaboration

Perhaps the biggest outcome of the meeting was the shared commitment to deepened collaboration between states and the federal government.

Rather than acting in silos, both tiers of government agreed to adopt a unified strategy to stabilise food prices, reduce waste, and ensure that Nigerians,predominantly low-income households,can afford basic food items.

The governors also committed to enhancing data-sharing, improving communication channels, and streamlining policy implementation. Several pilot states are expected to lead the execution of harmonised levies and checkpoint removal as early as Q3 2025.