The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has pledged to deepen intelligence sharing with the Department of State Services to tackle security threats, violent extremism, and inter-communal tensions across the country.
The forum gave the assurance in a communiqué issued after its fifth meeting on Thursday in Abuja signed by the Chairman, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, and read by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
Sanwo-Olu said that the forum of the 36 states governors at the meeting deliberated on issues affecting the country including the security challenge bill, ongoing bank recapitalisation, among others.
“The forum received a presentation from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Adeola Ajayi on emerging security threats and intelligence-led strategies to strengthen subnational coordination.
“The briefing focused on countering violent extremism, managing inter-communal tensions, and addressing security risks linked to economic hardship and political transition.
“Governors expressed appreciation to the DSS for its proactive engagement and reiterated their commitment to deepen intelligence sharing and collaboration with federal security agencies to enhance peace and stability across the states,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu alao expressed the forum’s support for the bill seeking to create reserved seats for women in the parliaments to promote equity and inclusive governance in Nigeria, urgin lawmakers to support the bill.
He said that the forum noted that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349) would be voted on between Nov. 4 and Nov. 6.
The Bill is seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies exclusively contested by women in the National and State Assemblies as a temporary measure to enhance gender representation.
“Governors were urged to engage their senators, members of the House of Representatives, and State Assemblies to support the Bill’s passage and affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity and inclusive governance,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He also expressed the forum’s support for the ongoing monetary and exchange rate stabilisation efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following a presentation by the Governor of the apex bank, Mr Olayemi Cardoso.
He said that Cardoso represented by the CBN Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, made presentation on the bank’s ongoing stabilisation efforts to restore price stability and strengthen confidence in the economy.
The briefing, according to him highlighted, recent policy measures, including the tightening of monetary policy, unification of exchange rate windows, and recapitalisation of banks, to curb inflation, enhance liquidity management, and consolidate macroeconomic stability.
“Governors commended the CBN’s coordinated approach with fiscal authorities and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration to safeguard growth and state fiscal sustainability,” Sanwo-Olu said.(NAN)