President Muhammadu Buhari is currently chairing the Council of State meeting in order to find a long-term solution to the financial difficulties caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash swap policy.

The meeting, which started at 10:12 AM with the national anthem, is being held at the Presidential Villa’s Council Chambers in Abuja.

This meeting will focus on a number of issues affecting the country, including petrol and naira scarcity, insecurity, and others ahead of the upcoming general elections. Attending the meeting are former presidents and heads of state such as General Yakubu Gowon (retired), General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is participating online, along with Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu, Plateau Governor Simon Lalong, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.

In attendance are also Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation Folashade Yemi-Esan. Governors attending the meeting include Darius Ishaku of Taraba, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Inuawa Yahaya of Gombe, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, and Deputy Governor Baba Talla of Bauchi.

Awaiting their turn to brief the council are the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba, Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Hammed Audi, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele on the preparations for the upcoming February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, as well as the March 11 governorship and state house of assembly polls, and the new Naira notes.

The National Council of State is a government body in Nigeria that provides advice to the executive on policy making. Its members include the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former presidents, former heads of state, former chief justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors of the 36 states of the federation, and the Attorney General of the Federation.