Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State is currently attending an emergency meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting it was gathered is to deliberate on some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity in the nation.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismaila Isah in a statement indicated that the meeting which is at the instance of President Tinubu along with Vice President Kashim Shettima and Governors of the 36 states of the federation.
According to him, they have agreed on modalities to tackle the current economic crisis being faced by the citizens and how to deal with insecurity in the country.
“The President restated his commitment to work with the Governors for the wellbeing of Nigerian families and urged the Governors to redouble their efforts in tackling the problem of food shortages and insecurity across the country.
On his part, Governor Ododo who was attending the meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for the first time in his capacity as the Executive Governor of Kogi State expressed support for the agenda of Mr. President to tackle the prevailing food crisis and insecurity in the country.
The Kogi State Governor promised to address the problem of food security and economic downturn frontally by embarking on quarterly food palliatives and cash incentives for every household in the state.
According to Governor Ododo:
“All is now set for the flag-off of the first quarterly food palliative and cash support for the people of Kogi state.
“The grains and cash for logistics are in place and details of the modalities for distribution are being worked out by our team back in Lokoja right now and in a couple of days we shall commence the distribution of grains and cash support to all households across the 239 wards in Kogi State.
“This is in line with our campaign promises to key into the policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Governor Ododo assured the people of a hitch-free distribution of the intervention throughout the state.
He called for the active involvement of community leaders, religious leaders and other stakeholders for the smooth distribution of the palliatives.
The Governor also noted that his administration is already working on long term measures for agricultural development in areas of livestock and crop production to guarantee food security in Kogi State through a mix of commercial and subsistence farming in all parts of the state.