By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
In a major move aimed at curbing rising inflation and easing economic hardship, Nigeria’s 36 state governors have reached a consensus with the Federal Government to dismantle illegal roadblocks and eliminate multiple unauthorized taxes across the country.
The resolution was reached during a crucial meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held on Wednesday in Abuja, which extended into the early hours of Thursday.
The meeting, which drew widespread attention, focused primarily on the soaring cost of living, with particular emphasis on escalating food and transportation prices. According to the governors, the proliferation of illegal checkpoints and overlapping levies has severely disrupted the movement of goods—especially foodstuffs and livestock—thereby worsening inflation and deepening the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
During the meeting, National Security Adviser (NSA) Malam Nuhu Ribadu briefed the governors, identifying unauthorized roadblocks, poor road infrastructure, and duplicative taxes as key factors driving supply chain disruptions that have severely undermined food security.
In response, the governors resolved to collaborate closely with federal authorities, including the Ministries of Defence, Transportation, Agriculture, and the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development, to streamline levies, dismantle illegal checkpoints, and facilitate the free movement of goods nationwide.
“The existence of multiple roadblocks and unofficial levies is fueling inflation and making life harder for farmers, transporters, and ordinary Nigerians,” one governor stated after the meeting. “We are committed to removing these obstacles to facilitate free flow of goods and reduce costs.”
The governors also received updates from a federal inter-ministerial committee, which recently submitted detailed recommendations to address the problem. These recommendations were unanimously adopted by the Forum.
In a related development, the World Bank briefed the Forum on the progress of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, revealing that over $2.2 billion has already been disbursed across the 36 states, reaching approximately 17 million Nigerians. However, the governors expressed concern over delays in the disbursement of the remaining funds and called for immediate resolution to ensure continuity as the country prepares for NG-CARES phase 2.0.
The dismantling of illegal checkpoints and harmonization of levies is expected to have far-reaching effects on the economy by reducing transportation costs and improving food affordability across the board. These resolutions are seen as a significant step towards stabilizing Nigeria’s inflation rate and enhancing food security amid ongoing economic reforms.
Whether this move will serve as a silver bullet remains to be seen, but Nigerians are hopeful.