President Bola Tinubu on Monday met behind closed-doors with six governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governors arrived the Presidential Villa around 3:30pm and proceeded straight into a private meeting with the President.
The discussion, which lasted for more than an hour, ended without any official briefing, and the specific agenda was not disclosed.
Those in attendance included Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi; Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo; Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo; Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Sokoto; and Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris.
The meeting comes at a time Nigeria is contending with renewed security concerns, particularly in the North-West and North-Central, where incidents of banditry, kidnappings and attacks on rural communities have intensified. Several of the states represented Kebbi, Sokoto and Kogi have witnessed a surge in abductions and assaults by criminal gangs in recent months.
In response to rising insecurity, President Tinubu on November 26 declared a nationwide security emergency, directing the military, police and intelligence agencies to accelerate recruitment, deploy more personnel, and reinforce protection around schools, farms and places of worship. He also urged governors to strengthen local intelligence and early-warning mechanisms.
Monday’s meeting follows last week’s change in Defence Minister and the administration’s renewed engagement with foreign partners for improved counter-terrorism support.
Meanwhile, the APC has scheduled its National Caucus and National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings for Monday, December 15 and Tuesday, December 16 at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
When approached for comments after the meeting, the governors declined to speak with State House correspondents.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
