Shettima: Nigerians’ll benefit from policies in weeks
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has stressed the importance of state governors in propelling Nigeria’s progress and prosperity.
At a New Year homage at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, yesterday, he told a delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which included members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), that achieving food security, economic prosperity and quick national growth depend heavily on the subnational leadership.
He thanked them for their cooperation and support while outlining important areas that need coordinated efforts to advance the country.
“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 comes to you. The agricultural value chain depends on you. You own the land, and the job is in your hands.”
President Tinubu called for a stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to address pressing challenges, including local government autonomy, agricultural productivity, and currency stability.
Expressing his commitment to local government development and autonomy, the President stressed its importance for grassroots development and dispelled rumours of disagreement with governors.
“We will not fight within us. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. You can restore hope by effectively fulfilling what the people expect at the grassroots level. There was gossip that we had disagreements on local government autonomy. No. Just drive development at the local government. Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration. Let’s do it together and ensure Nigeria is better off for it.”
He urged governors to prioritise agricultural growth as a pathway to economic stability.
“We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure the situation of our currency improves. Nigeria will see prosperity, but it requires consistent effort from all of us.”
Tinubu also urged the governors to take pride in their efforts and acknowledged their progress across the states.
“There is no state we cannot visit and be proud of its development. We have better allocations now. Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of.” He reflected on his leadership experience over the past 19 months and said he is confident Nigeria can prosper because of the administration’s leadership and tenacity.
“I am glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We’ll be on this voyage together. I thank all of you for where we are today and where we are heading.”
He announced that he will be visiting Enugu State on January 4 as part of his planned visits to some states of the federation.
He welcomed his declaration by ThisDAY newspaper as Man of the Year and commended the newspaper for recognising “what they considered a failure initially, but is now a success.”
Meanwhile, Shettima has assured that Nigerians will start to see the benefits of the Tinubu administration’s initiatives in the upcoming weeks and months.
He pointed out that the administration is closely collaborating with the National Assembly to achieve comprehensive answers to the nation’s difficulties, and that the economy is already beginning to show signs of recovery. While many countries have been negatively impacted by global economic reasons like the Ukraine crisis, Shettima claims that Nigeria is overcoming these obstacles via resilience and intelligent policymaking.
He stressed that the government is dedicated to making sure that all Nigerians enjoy steady economic growth and prosperity. “I am confident that 2025 will bring about substantial economic activity and improvements to the lives of citizens,” he said, reiterating the administration’s commitment to fostering an atmosphere that supports advancement and the development of the country.
Shettima assured Nigerians that the government is steadfast in its resolve to deliver on its promises and foster a future of shared prosperity.
“I’m highly optimistic about tomorrow. I believe we have turned the corner and, insh Allah, we shall have very robust economic activities in the new year. I believe Nigerians will prosper.
“The economy has started picking up, and in the coming weeks and months, Nigerians will start smiling for the better.
“We are working assiduously with the National Assembly to come up with robust solutions to our national challenges. There is no nation that is immune to the economic headwinds across the world.
“The crisis in Ukraine and so many other global trends are affecting us adversely because we are part of the global community.
“But I want to assure Nigerians that the economy is turning the corner, by the grace of God, we have crossed the Rubicon and we are on a path to sustained growth. We wish Nigerians well”, he said.
NGF chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, has described ThisDay’s decision to name President Tinubu Man of the Year as a significant endorsement of the administration’s policies.
He noted that the acknowledgement from a media outlet known for critical media coverage during the campaign reflects the tangible progress made under President Tinubu’s leadership.
“The policies are working. In agriculture, I was in Jigawa. The complaint in Jigawa was that there was a bumper harvest, but because of the strength of our currency, traders exported the harvest.
“So, most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos, store them for the rainy day. So, in terms of agriculture, the policy is working. We’ll continue to deepen that and ensure we are 100 percent sustained in food security and feed the whole of West Africa.”
He urged the President to visit various states to see the ongoing transformations and progress firsthand.
He assured the president of the steadfast support of the governors, particularly in contributing to local security architecture to further enhance the nation’s security.
“I must confess that I have not done two years in this administration, but I’ve done more projects in two years than in the four years of my first term.
“We are getting more funding due to the restructuring of the economy. Yes, there is inflation, but we are overriding it,” Abdulrazaq said.