Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the removal of fuel subsidy and other measures have increased the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about ₦4.5 billion to approximately ₦16 billion.
Governor Sule made this known in Lafia while receiving members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The team, made up of presidential media aides and more than 50 senior journalists, is touring North-Central states to inspect federal and state government projects and assess the impact of government policies on development.
According to Sule, the increase in federal allocations has provided Nasarawa State with greater financial capacity to execute major infrastructure and development projects.
He explained that before the reforms, the state received between ₦3.8 billion and ₦4.5 billion monthly from the Federation Account, limiting the government’s ability to undertake major capital projects.
The governor said the situation changed significantly following the economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu.
“Today, we are beginning to see the benefits because the resources available to us have increased tremendously,” Sule said.
He acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy and other reforms initially created economic difficulties for Nigerians, but praised President Tinubu for having the political courage to take what he described as difficult but necessary decisions.
Sule said the President “took the bullet” on behalf of the states and local governments by implementing reforms that ultimately freed up additional resources for the three tiers of government.
He also stressed the importance of effective communication in helping citizens understand government policies, particularly when such policies create short-term difficulties but are intended to strengthen the economy in the long run.
The governor said the increased revenue had enabled his administration to undertake major projects in road infrastructure, industrialisation, education, healthcare and water supply across Nasarawa State.
He further assured the visiting media team that his administration remained committed to transparency in the use of public funds.
Sule, who said he came from the private sector, explained that his administration publicly announces the cost of government contracts to enable citizens to monitor expenditure and assess the value being delivered.
Media Team Inspects Projects
During its tour of Nasarawa State, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team inspected several completed projects executed by the state and federal governments.
Among the projects inspected was the multi-billion-naira Nasarawa State Secretariat, which houses the Ministries of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Justice.
The team also inspected the 1-megawatt solar farm powering the state secretariat along Shendam Road.
Other projects visited included the completed 16-kilometre Makurdi bypass in Lafia, which connects Nasarawa and Benue states; the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre; the Shinge Waterstorm Channel; and the completed Kilema Bridge along the Lafia-Doma Road.
Governor Sule described the media tour as an important opportunity for Nigerians to see government projects directly rather than relying solely on official statements.
He said the visit would allow members of the public to assess the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda is translating into tangible development at the grassroots.
The governor expressed optimism that continued implementation of the Federal Government’s economic reforms would further improve the financial position of states and enable them to undertake more transformative projects.
Onanuga Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Speaking during the visit, Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended President Tinubu for implementing reforms that he said successive administrations had recognised as necessary but failed to undertake.
Onanuga recalled that President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy immediately after assuming office in 2023 and subsequently introduced the floating of the naira and ended the system of multiple official exchange rates.
He acknowledged that the reforms initially contributed to inflation and widespread hardship but argued that the measures were necessary to free up government resources.
Onanuga also commended Governor Sule for supporting the reforms at the time they were introduced.
He recalled that Sule had publicly defended the President’s decision, saying Tinubu had effectively taken responsibility for difficult economic decisions that would ultimately benefit the states and local governments.
According to Onanuga, the reforms have released additional resources to state governments that can now be deployed to infrastructure and other development projects.
“What the President did was to free up resources that the state governors have been longing for to develop their states,” Onanuga said.
Also speaking during the inspection of the Makurdi bypass, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, AbulAziz AbdulAziz, said the scale of infrastructure development witnessed in Nasarawa and Benue states was evidence, in his view, that the Renewed Hope Agenda was producing results.
The Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Tour is aimed at showcasing government projects and providing the public with first-hand information on the implementation and impact of government policies across different parts of the country.
