The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed deep concern over the escalating food inflation across the country, attributing the crisis to a combination of excessive taxation, illegal checkpoints, and deteriorating infrastructure under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a communiqué issued following a high-level meeting in Abuja, the 36 state governors unanimously acknowledged the urgent need to address the root causes of the food price surge, which has placed immense pressure on millions of Nigerian households. The forum, chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, emphasized that the unchecked proliferation of levies and roadblocks has severely disrupted the national food supply chain.
“The rising cost of food is not just a statistic—it is a daily hardship for our people,” said Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communiqué. “We are witnessing firsthand how illegal taxation and poor infrastructure are inflating prices and stifling economic activity across our states.”
The governors also received a briefing from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and key federal ministers, who confirmed that unauthorized checkpoints and logistical inefficiencies are major contributors to the inflation crisis. In response, the NGF pledged to collaborate with the Federal Government to dismantle these barriers and streamline the movement of goods nationwide.
Additionally, the forum voiced frustration over the World Bank’s failure to fulfill financial commitments under the NG-CARES 1.0 programme, despite states investing over $2.2 billion to support vulnerable communities. The governors called for an urgent resolution to unlock further support under NG-CARES 2.0.