By Peter Omopo
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, says 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 disclosed this on Saturday 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 delegation, comprising presidential media aides and more than 50 senior journalists, is touring states across the North-Central region to inspect federal and state government projects and assess the impact of ongoing development initiatives.
According to Sule, Nasarawa previously received between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion monthly from the Federation Account, a situation he said constrained the state’s ability to undertake major capital projects.
He said the significant increase in revenue had created greater fiscal space for his administration to implement projects in infrastructure, industrialisation, education, healthcare and water supply.
“Today, we are beginning to see the benefits because the resources available to us have increased tremendously,” Sule said.
The governor acknowledged that the removal of the fuel subsidy and other reforms initially imposed economic hardship on Nigerians but said Tinubu demonstrated political courage by taking responsibility for difficult decisions aimed at strengthening the country’s economy.
Sule said the President “took the bullet” on behalf of the three tiers of government by implementing reforms that have subsequently increased the resources available to states and local governments.
He also stressed the importance of effective communication of government policies, particularly when reforms initially create economic difficulties for citizens.
Sule commended the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National Media Team for embarking on the nationwide inspection tour, saying the initiative would enable Nigerians to see ongoing projects beyond official narratives.
During the Nasarawa leg of the tour, the delegation inspected the completed multi-billion-naira state secretariat along Shendam Road, which houses the Ministries of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health, and Justice. The team also inspected a one-megawatt solar farm powering the complex.
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.
Onanuga, while speaking during the tour, commended Tinubu for implementing what he described as long-delayed economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
He said successive administrations had identified the need for such reforms but repeatedly postponed their implementation.
“Actually, when President Tinubu came in 2023, he initiated some audacious reforms that ought to have been introduced some decades ago,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide acknowledged that the reforms initially contributed to inflation and widespread concerns over economic hardship but maintained that 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 fuel subsidy removal.
He said the reforms had freed resources that state governors had long sought to channel into development projects.
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 demonstrated what he described as the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
