President Bola Tinubu has issued a message to state governors, emphasizing their crucial role in driving Nigeria’s development and prosperity.
This message was delivered during a New Year homage by Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at the President’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos. The President also shared plans to visit Enugu State on January 4, as part of his nationwide state visits.
In his address, President Tinubu highlighted the essential role of state governors in Nigeria’s development, noting that their leadership at the subnational level is key to achieving food security, economic prosperity, and rapid national growth. He stressed that the Federal Government accounts for only 30 to 35 percent of allocated revenue, with the rest being handled by the states, which are vital to the agricultural value chain.
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development. The agricultural value chain depends on you. You control the land, and the job is in your hands,” he stated.
The President called for enhanced collaboration between federal and state governments to tackle pressing challenges such as local government autonomy, agricultural productivity, and currency stability. He reaffirmed his commitment to local government development and autonomy, assuring that there are no disagreements with the governors on this issue.
“We will not fight among ourselves. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. You can restore hope by delivering what the people expect at the grassroots level,” he emphasized. “There have been rumors about disagreements on local government autonomy, but no, let’s work together to drive development at the local level. No one is taking local governments away from you, but we need to collaborate for the betterment of Nigeria.”
The President urged governors to focus on agricultural growth as a key avenue for economic stability. He said, “We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure our currency stabilizes. Nigeria will prosper, but it requires sustained effort from all of us.”
Acknowledging the progress across various states, he added, “There is no state we cannot visit and be proud of its development. We now have better allocations. Let me bear the criticism; you enjoy the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we all take pride in.”
Reflecting on his leadership over the past 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s future, citing the resilience and leadership of the administration. “I’m glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We are on this journey together. I thank all of you for where we are today and where we are headed,” he concluded.
Additionally, President Tinubu acknowledged his recognition as Man of the Year by ThisDAY newspaper, praising the media outlet for acknowledging what was initially seen as a failure but has now become a success.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, remarked that ThisDAY’s recognition of the President underscored the positive impact of the administration’s policies. He pointed out that despite critical media coverage during the campaign, the administration’s agricultural policies were already bearing fruit, as evidenced by the bumper harvests in states like Jigawa.
“The policies are working. In agriculture, I visited Jigawa, where farmers reported bumper harvests, but because of the strength of our currency, traders exported the produce. We are encouraging the purchase of surplus crops for storage to ensure food security,” he said. He also called for the President to visit more states to see the ongoing changes firsthand and reiterated the governors’ unwavering support, particularly in strengthening local security systems.
Governor Abdulrazak emphasized the transformation happening across states, stating, “Though I’ve only served two years in this administration, I’ve completed more projects than I did during my first term. We’re getting more funding due to economic restructuring. Despite inflation, we are overcoming it.”
