By Blessing Chinagorom
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his visionary stance at the emergency meeting held with the 36 State Governors on bolstering security measures across the nation.
Tinubu at the State House, Abuja on Thursday, while reiterated his commitment to secure lives of the citizens, approved creation of a committee that includes the governors and federal government representatives to explore, among other things, the possibility of establishing state police.
The President also endorsed the training and equipping of forest rangers by sub-national govts to protect human and natural resources in communities.
“My stance is unequivocal: we move aggressively to examine the issues raised, including the potential for establishing state police”.
Uzodimma in his reaction on X said, the President’s decision to initiate the establishment of State Police and the legitimization of Forest Rangers resonates deeply with the Governors’ commitment to safeguarding their citizens and promoting prosperity.
He stated that the initiative aligns seamlessly with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope agenda, emphasizing the paramount importance of ensuring safety and stability for all Nigerians. “In Imo State, we recognize the important role these measures play in guaranteeing food security and fostering agricultural development.
“By enhancing security frameworks, we not only protect our communities but also create an environment conducive to the flourishing of agricultural ventures. We are steadfast in our dedication to implementing these directives, as they herald a new era of safety and prosperity for our beloved nation”, Uzodimma added.
Meanwhile, at the meeting on food security, the President ordered swift action over the reports out of Kano and other areas about large-scale hoarding of food in some warehouses.
According to him, “I have instructed the National Security Adviser, the Inspector- General of Police, and the Director-General of Department of State Services to coordinate closely to ensure that security agencies in the states inspect such warehouses and take follow-up action”.
He added, “We cannot allow speculators, hoarders, and rent seekers to undermine our efforts in ensuring that food is widely available to all Nigerians. I will not establish a price control board, nor will I approve the importation of food.
“We must extricate ourselves from this predicament because importation only enables rent seekers to perpetrate fraud and mismanagement at our collective expense. Instead, we will support our farmers with schemes that encourage them to cultivate more food for the nation.
“We must also rapidly but thoughtfully implement our livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming and others”, the President said.
On monetary policy and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tinubu urged all Governors to trust the Central Bank of Nigeria with the management of the dear country’s monetary policy, emphasized the need for designated institutions to effectively fulfill this mandate.
“The “cacophony of postulations” on the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates is adversely affecting the market. Not everyone can be an expert. If we’ve assigned someone a task, we must allow them to perform it. If they fail, then we must find a way to quickly remove them from the system.
The President also asked the Governors to always prioritize the welfare and prosperity of their people in their development programs, while assured them that the federal government will continue to work diligently to improve the nation’s revenue profile. “As leaders, we must work together to address issues of insecurity, food security, and out-of-school children”.