- Safiu Kehinde
The National Economic Council (NEC) has demanded the positions of Kwara, Adamawa, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the proposed establishment of the State Police within one week.
Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Diri explained that the council was updated on the establishment of the state police, and it was reported that 33 states have submitted their positions.
” While three states are yet to do so. These three states are Adamawa, Kebbi, and incidentally Kwara, which the state of our Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the FCT are yet to submit their position.
” The council mandated these remaining states and FCT to make their submission within the next one week and reserved to present a consolidated state position on the state police to the National Economic Council at our next meeting.” He said.
On his part, Gov. Hope Uzodima of Imo, said that the council also received a presentation from the National Coordinator of the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone (SAIPZ).
He said,” Of course you will recall that this is a special agricultural programme by the Federal Government and the African Development Bank.
” The pilot states are Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and the FCT, under phase one.
” And the projects in these states are at various stages of completion. Impressed by the programme, phase two is about to start.
” Two weeks ago, there was a stakeholders’ meeting that brought additional 21 states.”
Uzodima said that the council resolved that all the states of the federation should key into the programme, saying,” this programme is going to be a game changer.
” And it will help in tackling the food security drive of the Federal Government.”
Similarly, the governor said that the council also received a presentation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
” They presented various initiatives of the agency, in agriculture, science, technology, and proposed partnership with sub-national governments on the establishment and improvement of Solar Power, Rural Electrification and some other industries.
” And the agency wants to support manufacturing, seaport development and they are also going to make land accessible, encourage the public sector market and general infrastructure.
” As a matter of fact, they came up with different initiatives, repairing agro equipment and implementing, repairing and manufacturing tractors to be powered by solar,” he said.
Uzodima, therefore, said that the council urged NASENI to help state governments in repairing the broken-down tractors in different states.
He said,” Impressed by that most of the sub-nationals have expressed willingness to henceforth partner, procured and patronise NASENI in making sure that all these efforts and initiatives comes to fruition.”