Nigeria’s 36 state governors have united with the Federal Government in a strategic effort to address food inflation and ensure food security. Their plan includes harmonizing levies, eliminating illegal checkpoints, and improving the free flow of goods across state lines.
Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, disclosed that both the Progressive Governors Forum and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have agreed on adopting a state-level security system to bolster federal security efforts.
Food inflation, although showing a technical decline from 40.66% in May 2024 to 21.14% in May 2025 due to a change in statistical base year, remains a pressing issue with a month-on-month increase to 2.19%. Many states, including those that produce significant food crops, are experiencing sharp food price hikes.
The National Bureau of Statistics highlights that staple food prices remain elevated, driven by insecurity, supply chain disruptions, and high transportation costs. At a meeting chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and attended by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, governors pinpointed illegal levies, checkpoints, and poor infrastructure as major inflation drivers.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking for the Nigeria Governors Forum, noted, “The proliferation of checkpoints, illegal taxation, and poor infrastructure are key contributors to price inflation and inefficiencies in the food supply chain.” He also criticized the World Bank for failing to fulfill its funding commitments under the NG-CARES programme, despite states investing over US$2.2 billion.
The Forum called for a resolution to the funding impasse to complete NG-CARES 1.0 before moving to phase 2, designed to strengthen resilience for vulnerable groups.
Governor Uzodimma, in a social media post, reiterated governors’ commitment to lawful security actions while awaiting further federal measures. He emphasized, “Our resolve is unwavering, and our duty to the people remains our highest calling,” in the wake of the recent mass killing in Benue State.
President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Benue and directives to arrest the attackers highlight the urgent need to address insecurity, which continues to undermine food availability and safety across Nigeria.