President Bola Tinubu has urged members of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, to discard such classifications as federal, state, or rural roads, saying they all share a joint responsibility to make life meaningful for Nigerians.
He emphasised the need for joint responsibility and closer collaboration between the federal and sub-national governments to foster rapid infrastructural development in every part of the nation.
“I want us to discard federal, state, or rural road classifications. We must regard development as a joint responsibility. Let us prioritise our children. The school feeding programme must return quickly, beginning with the local government to the state and federal governments. We must be ready to protect our children and prepare them for the future,” the President firmly stated.
The President made these remarks on Tuesday while playing host to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at his residence in Lagos.
The visit of the members of NGF afforded President Tinubu an opportunity to reiterate his condemnation of the latest killings in Plateau State. He said the federal and sub-national governments of Nigeria have the mutual responsibility of ensuring the country’s peace and stability. The President issued a stern directive to security agencies to halt the carnage in Plateau State and intensify the pursuit of those responsible for the recent tragedies in Bokkos and Barkin-Ladi local government areas.
“Nigeria needs peace and stability to move forward. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we have to take care of it,” he said.
President Tinubu, who acknowledged the presence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State at the meeting, commended him for his efforts to peacefully resolve the political challenges in the state.
“I thank you for your statesmanship. I listened to your broadcast and your emphasis on peace. It is only with peace that effective governance can thrive, and governance has commenced in earnest under my watch,” he said.
On the 2024 budget proposals before the National Assembly, the President informed the governors that he had a review meeting earlier in the day on certain elements in the appropriation bill with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The chairman of NGF and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq expressed solidarity with the government and the people of Plateau State.
“May God be with the souls of the departed and bring peace to Plateau State. The Governor of Plateau State, we are with you; stay strong,” the NGF chairman said.
Governor Abdulrazaq further reaffirmed NGF’s support for the bold decisions and reforms initiated by President Tinubu’s administration.
“These are challenging times. It is not a walk in the park. Removing fuel subsidies had a great structural effect on the economies of the states. But we are confident that we will overcome these challenges and bounce back better,” he said.
