Governors aim to resolve clashes between farmers and pastorialists.
The National Economic Council, NEC, has raised alarm over imminent “shortage of food in the entire country” due to mercenary attacks in 17 states.
The NEC is chaired by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, and made up of the 36 state governors and some ministers. The NEC’s meeting of Thursday, its first since June 2013, called for urgent security measures to stem the attacks.
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau, alongside Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and the Minister of State for Works and Supervising Minister of National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, briefed journalists after the meeting.
The governors said that unless urgent steps were taken to put an end to the incessant attacks against farmers in the states, the farmers may not be able to return to their farms ahead of the farming season, which could lead to food shortage in the country.
Hundreds of people have been killed in such clashes and thousands displaced.
According to the governors, the displacement of farmers in the affected states was a matter of great concern to both the federal and state governments.
“As a matter of fact, council was quite worried about this and we feel if something is not done immediately, our farmers may not be able to work in their farms and that means shortage of food in the entire country,” the governors said.
“As a matter of fact, council was quite worried about this and we feel if something is not done immediately, our farmers may not be able to work in their farms and that means shortage of food in the entire country,” the governors said.
The Council mandated the Vice President to hold an urgent consultation with President Goodluck Jonathan “so that an emergency meeting will be conveyed of all the affected states so that we can find an immediate solution to the problem,” Mr. Jang said.
The governor said Council also received a presentation by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, on the incessant conflicts between farmers and pastorialists. The presentation highlighted the challenges and solutions to the conflicts in Nigeria.
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