Governors meet today on security, looting

THE 36 state governors will today undertake a review of the internal security situation in the country and the status of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The security issue, it was learnt, would be at the top of the agenda of the governors’ 21st teleconference holding under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

The meeting, according to a statement issued by the NGF’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, would also have an overview from different quarters arising from the CACOVID-19 palliatives’ distribution and the subsequent looting of various warehouses across the country.

The statement said, “These two items will form the fulcrum of the invitation to governors to join the 21st NGF teleconference which is scheduled for Wednesday, according to the Director-General of the NGF, Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru.

“Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will make a remark on the contemporary issues affecting the country since the last (20th NGF teleconference) meeting.

“In this regard, the Ekiti State governor will be addressing his colleagues on several issues, including feedback from the Villa on the UBEC counterpart funding as schools are beginning to reopen nationwide and the 50th anniversary of AREWA, which took place in Kaduna at the weekend, with the chairman and a host of northern governors in attendance.

“Also on the agenda for discussion are the HORASIS meeting with the president, a partnership between the NGF and HORASIS, management consultants’ consortium, to set up a strong foreign direct investment initiative for the country, a webinar on privatisation to be jointly driven by the NSE, NGF and the NIPC, among others.

“Only one presentation is on the schedule for today’s meeting. It is the Digital Curriculum Initiative for Basic and secondary Education ingeniously tagged the e-Gamma solutions Limited.

“Before the floor is open for any other business, the regular updates on the SFTAS programme and the Ifeanyi Okowa Committee which liaises between the PTF on COVID-19 and the NGF will both provide an update.

“Governors are expected, according to the NGF director-general, to join the virtual meeting at 1pm, as proceedings commence at 2pm.prompt.”