Governors Request For Bailout For Security From Buhari

The Nigeria Governors Forum on Tuesday after its meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and Service Chiefs requested for a security bailout to support the military and police.

The Chairman of the forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State made this call during the three-hour virtual meeting anchored by President Buhari from the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Others in attendance were, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, heads of defence, security and intelligence agencies, and members of the Security Committee of the NGF, represented by one governor from each of the six geo-political zones.

Buhari met with the service chief and governors over security policies and approaches in tackling the internal security challenges.

The governors highlighted the problems of poverty, unemployment, trust deficit between the military and civilian population and the inflow of small arms into the country.

The governors also pointed to the problem of coordination among military and security chiefs and played up their own security roles, which included one billion dollars they allowed President Buhari to withdraw from the Excess Crude Account for weapons procurement two years ago.

President Buhari while reacting to the call for bailout through his Senior Special Assistant to on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told Daily Trust that the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, took note of the request and other issues discussed, and would later brief the president who would take an action on it at the appropriate time.