By Chuks Okocha
The 36 state governors will tomorrow meet on all issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic vaccines.
In a statement issued by the Head of Media and Public Affairs of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, he said various issues around the COVID-19 vaccines roll out would feature prominently in the 28th teleconference meeting of the NGF (fifth in 2021) on March 17, 2021.
He also said the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who leads the governors’ committee that interfaces with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, would brief his colleagues on the situation with the vaccines roll out and their attendant impediments since the roll out.
According to the invitation issued by the Director-General of the forum, Asishana Bayo Okauru, he said: “Governors of the 36 states will also be briefed by the Governor Nasir El Rufai Committee on Subsidy on Petrol before any decisions on the supply and or retailing of the product is taken.
“On his part also, the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, will update his colleagues on the outcome of his meeting with the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of States’ Universities.
“The educationists met the forum’s chairman last week and presented a number of requests which they believed would improve education at the subnational level.”
Also, the head of the NGF media and public affairs said the governors would also listen to the activities of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to hear how their wives fared last week when they engaged the country by attending several activities that marked the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021.
The meeting, he said, would also play host to three external presentations top of which will be made by the newly appointed National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) boss, retired General Buba Marwa, whose presentation is entitled: ‘Managing the Drug Crisis’.
Bakindo also said the DFID would be making a presentation on the NNPC audit reports and what the states should know, while the last presentation, which is by no means the least, will be on trade facilitation in Nigeria through e-customs and a PPP structure in partnership with the British High Commission.
The meeting is expected to commence at 2p.m., but governors have been enjoined by the director-general to log in at 1p.m.
