APPARENTLY worried about the pathetic food situation in the country, the 36 state governors will today gather in Abuja to suggest ways out of the problem.
The parley, which will be held at the Kwara State Government Lodge, Abuja, is being hosted by Governor Bukola Saraki in his capacity as chairman of the Governors� Forum.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that top on the agenda of the meeting would be a debate on global food security, especially the escalating prices of food items in Nigeria and the need to assure Nigerians that the situation would not get out of hand.
Nigeria presently imports 36 per cent of its food needs from foreign countries, a development which is affecting prices of other indices in the market.
A source told the Nigerian Tribune that President Umaru Yar�Adua would, next week, convoke a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the food situation in the country and alert them about the threat posed to the corporate existence of the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Dr. Zayyad Abba Ruma, who alerted the nation about the imminent food calamity in the country, penultimate week, however, said there should be no cause for alarm as the situation was under control.
He said apart from rice, prices of food items remained stable and that his ministry was working round the clock to correct the price anomaly.
The minister said 650,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser bought by the Federal Government would be distributed to farmers immediately so that they could take advantage of the raining season.