ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 4th MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 24th MAY 2017 AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, ABUJA
We, the members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today, at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows:
1. The World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud, briefed the Forum on the progress of the implementation of the Bank’s portfolio partnerships with States, members pledged to strengthen coordination mechanism and consensus on replicating and exchanging reviews across the States, to resolve implementation challenges and achieve project development objectives.
2. On the status of the prohibition of rice importation through Nigeria’s land borders, members received update from the Ag. Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Dangaladima Aminu Alhaji who represented the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.). Members commended the Service for the renewed effort in strengthening anti-smuggling activities, and pledged to collaborate with the Customs Service to ensure that the country achieves its target of self-sufficiency in rice production by 2018.
3. The Forum also received a presentation from Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on the Challenges and Prospects of the Hajj pilgrimage. Members pledged to collaborate with the Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that existing agreements of air carriers are renegotiated with the involvement of States as key stakeholders.
Governor Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, 24th May, 2017