President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria has no reason to be poor and identified divisiveness as one of the nation’s significant challenges.
He made these remarks on Friday while meeting with governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) at the State House in Abuja.
President Tinubu stressed the need for the governing party to work towards healing and unifying the country by fostering a collective national vision and directing energy and resources into nation-building.
He urged APC governors to implement policies prioritising all Nigerians and always considering the national interest above political affiliations.
According to Tinubu, development policies would only have full relevance in people’s lives when there was inclusivity, ownership, and sustainability.
He expressed confidence in the abundance of human, natural, and material resources in Nigeria, asserting that the financial system of the country would be re-engineered for inclusivity, effectiveness, and efficiency.
“We have no reason to be poor. Looking back on where we are coming from, where we have been, and why we are facing infrastructural decay, a lack of quality and comprehensive education, as well as a lack of health facilities, we are not a cursed country, but blessed,’’ the President said in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
President Tinubu called on governors to devise a framework for the comprehensive and successful implementation of the school-feeding programme across all states, stressing the importance of involving opposition governors. He noted the programme’s potential to encourage investments in agriculture, particularly in livestock farming and dairy.
Tinubu also discussed security measures, considering the deployment of forest guards with better training and modern technological gadgets and securing the solid mineral and marine economic sectors with special police. He proposed the country’s purchase and reservation of minerals, especially gold, to boost the foreign exchange reserve.
“We have a big marine economy, and I do not see why we should not have the marine police. We will have the same amount of solid minerals to keep the scavengers away. I am ready to invest in security. We will buy our own minerals and keep them in reserves, especially gold, which will be effective in our foreign exchange reserves,’’ the president told the governors.
In response, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum thanked the President for involving governors in policy design and implementation, as well as for providing financial support to the states. Uzodinma pledged continued support from the governors as ambassadors for the president.
“We will continue to support you as your able ambassadors, willing ambassadors, and capable ambassadors,’’ Governor Uzodinma said.
