President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Lagos, underscored the vital role of state governors in advancing Nigeria’s development and prosperity, emphasizing their pivotal leadership at the subnational level in achieving food security, economic stability, and national growth.
Speaking during a New Year visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at his Ikoyi residence, the President expressed gratitude for their support and highlighted key areas for collaborative progress.
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development. The Federal Government accounts for about 30 to 35 percent of the allocated revenue; the rest is yours. The agricultural value chain depends on you. You own the land, and the responsibility is in your hands,” President Tinubu said.
He called for enhanced collaboration between the federal and state governments to tackle pressing issues, including local government autonomy, agricultural productivity, and currency stability.
Addressing the topic of local government development, the President reaffirmed his commitment to autonomy and dispelled rumors of discord with the governors.
“We will not fight among ourselves. I will drive the change. You oversee your local governments. Fulfill what the people expect at the grassroots level.
“There were rumors of disagreements over local government autonomy. That’s untrue. Just focus on driving development. Nobody seeks to take control away from you; we need collaboration. Let’s work together to make Nigeria better,” he said.
President Tinubu urged the governors to prioritize agricultural growth as a means of fostering economic stability.
“We need to work harder, grow more, and improve the condition of our currency. Nigeria will achieve prosperity, but it requires persistent effort from all of us,” he added.
He commended the governors’ progress across the states and encouraged them to take pride in their achievements.
“There is no state we cannot visit and take pride in its development. Allocations have improved. Let me handle the criticism; you take the credit. Together, we’ll build a nation we’re proud of,” he stated.
Reflecting on his leadership journey over the last 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s resilience and progress under his administration.
“I am glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians entrusted me with the mandate. We’re on this journey together. I thank all of you for where we are and where we are headed,” Tinubu said.
The President announced a planned visit to Enugu State on January 4 as part of his scheduled state tours.
He also acknowledged his recognition as “Man of the Year” by ThisDay newspaper, commending the publication for appreciating what was once viewed as a challenge but has now turned into a success.
Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, described the recognition as a testament to the administration’s policies.
He noted that the acknowledgment from a previously critical media outlet reflects the tangible progress achieved under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“The policies are yielding results. For instance, in Jigawa, there was a bumper harvest. However, due to the strength of our currency, traders exported much of it. To address this, many of us are encouraging the purchase of bumper stocks for silos to prepare for the rainy days.
“In agriculture, the policies are working. We’ll continue to strengthen these efforts to ensure sustainable food security and support West Africa,” he said.
Governor Abdulrazak urged the President to visit various states to witness the ongoing transformations firsthand, assuring him of the governors’ unwavering support, especially in enhancing local security frameworks.
“I must admit that I’ve achieved more projects in the past two years than I did in the entire four years of my first term,” he said, attributing the progress to improved funding due to economic restructuring.
“Yes, there is inflation, but we are managing to rise above it,” the governor concluded.
