The 36 state governors met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, amid tension over a planned nationwide protest scheduled to take off on August 1.
The parley is therefore to address the looming threat of civil unrest and strategize how security could be beefed up.
Wednesday night’s discussion covered a wide array of urgent issues.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, the NSA briefed governors on intelligence reports that showed growing discontent and the possibility of nationwide protests. Tensions rumbled, and the answer was clearly agreed upon: security needed to be shored up across the nation. Ribadu said he would commit to aiding governors in shoring up security infrastructure within their respective states.
The NSA is committed to supporting the governors in improving security architecture at the subnational level,” the communique read. The governors welcomed this move and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the security of lives and properties. Apart from the direct security issues, legal and developmental matters were also brought up. State attorneys general informed the governors about the implications for local government finances of a recent Supreme Court ruling, which was a very important matter for the fiscal autonomy of the local councils
The Nigerian Bar Association also made an update in respect of the introduction of their new leadership and how they can partner with states to advance legal frameworks. Health and development matters also featured. The Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, made a briefing on health initiatives being put into practice across the country, stressing the commitment of the government towards better health.
The governors also gave an international dimension by extending a warm welcome to the new World Bank Country Director, Mr. Ndiame Diop. Diop outlined plans by the World Bank to support various development projects at the state level, with the goal of helping economic growth with social progress in Nigeria.
With the protest date of 1 August approaching, this is quite a proactive cooperation by the NSA with the governors to maintain stability. This multifaceted discussion mirrors the comprehensiveness of their attitude toward governance, linking immediate concerns about security to broader developmental aspirations.