Tinubu’s Reforms Raise Nasarawa Allocation To N16bn Monthly — Sule

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has said the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have increased the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account from about N4.5 billion to approximately N16 billion.

Sule made the disclosure on Saturday in Lafia when he received 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, comprising presidential media aides and more than 50 senior journalists, is touring North-Central states to inspect federal and state government projects.

The governor said the increase in revenue had created greater fiscal space for Nasarawa to execute major infrastructure and development projects.

He explained that before the reforms, the state received between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion monthly from the Federation Account, limiting its ability to undertake major capital projects.

“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 caused hardship, but said Tinubu demonstrated political courage by taking responsibility for difficult decisions aimed at improving the country’s economic capacity.

According to him, the President “took the bullet” on behalf of states and local governments by implementing reforms that have subsequently increased resources available to the three tiers of government.

Sule said the additional revenue had enabled his administration to invest in road infrastructure, industrialisation, education, healthcare and water supply across the state.

He also stressed the importance of communicating government policies effectively to citizens, particularly when reforms initially result in economic difficulties.

The governor commended the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team for undertaking the nationwide inspection tour, saying it would allow Nigerians to see projects being implemented beyond official narratives.

During the tour of Nasarawa, the team inspected the completed multi-billion-naira state secretariat housing the Ministries of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Justice, as well as a 1-megawatt solar farm powering the complex along Shendam Road.

The team also inspected 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.

Onanuga commended Tinubu for implementing what he described as long-delayed economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.

He said successive administrations had recognised the need for such reforms but repeatedly postponed them.

“Actually, when President Tinubu came in 2023, he initiated some audacious reforms that ought to have been introduced some decades ago,” Onanuga said.

He acknowledged that the reforms initially triggered inflation and widespread concerns over hardship but said the situation had subsequently improved.

Onanuga also commended Sule for supporting the President during the early stages of the reforms, recalling the governor’s public defence of the decision to remove subsidy.

He said the reforms had freed resources that state governors had long sought to deploy towards development.

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 across Nasarawa and Benue states showed that the Renewed Hope Agenda was delivering results.