Tinubu’s reforms empowering states to deliver big projects – Presidency

The Presidency has said the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu since assuming office have significantly increased resources available to states, enabling them to embark on ambitious infrastructure projects that were previously difficult to execute.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated this during a reception hosted by the Abia State Government for members of the Presidential Media Tour team at the Government House, Umuahia on Tuesday.

Onanuga said the removal of fuel subsidy and other fiscal reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration had strengthened the financial capacity of states and created room for development projects across the country.

“There was something that President Tinubu did from day one that today is helping our states to function.

“When on day one he was sworn in, he said subsidy is gone. People probably didn’t understand what they were talking about,” Onanuga said.

“That singular statement helped to free resources to our states. By May 29, 2023, at least about 27 states could not even pay salaries, not to talk of getting resources to do roads or build bridges or build hospitals or equip our schools.

“There was no money in the system. So when the President removed that subsidy, resources began to pour into the states.”

According to him, the increased allocations to states have transformed their ability to undertake major developmental projects.

“Just last week or this week, the Federal Account Allocation Committee shared N2.2 trillion among the three tiers of government, federal, state and local councils.

“The sheer flow of money, which at some time we say quadrupled or tripled going to the states, is enabling them to dream big.”

Onanuga noted that developments witnessed during the ongoing Presidential Media Tour across the South-East had demonstrated the impact of the administration’s reforms.

“I’ve read in the papers the various projects by His Excellency, the governor, and I know what the federal team is trying to do. But I have listened to a former governor say, ‘I wish that he was a governor in this era, the Tinubu era.’ Resources are flowing to the states.”

He added, “Many states we have visited like Ebonyi, and Enugu, are doing big, big projects that they would never have conceived before 2023. And I think the President deserves a round of applause for enabling states to have full resources to do that.”

The presidential aide said claims that the Federal Government was neglecting the South-East were inconsistent with what the media team had observed during the tour.

“You go somewhere, you read the papers, the social media will say Tinubu is not doing anything in the South-East. What we have seen in the last four or five days has debunked all that.

“The President is doing a lot. He has done a lot in Ebonyi. We have seen a lot that they have done in Enugu.”

Onanuga disclosed that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had similarly acknowledged the impact of federal reforms on the state’s development drive.

“In fact, the governor told us this afternoon that if the President does not release resources to them, if he does not feed resources to them, if he does not allow what they call fiscal federalism to work, there is no way they could have done anything.

“So you go to Enugu, you see what the governor is doing, courtesy of what the President has allowed to happen.”

He described the relationship between the Federal Government and state governments as a strategic partnership aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“I watched the video that was shown earlier about what the federal government is doing here. The video spoke about strategic partnership between the federal and the state government, and I think to me, that’s a very significant thing happening here.

“The federal and the state government are working together. And it is for the progress of all Nigerians living under this space that we call Abia.”

Earlier, Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information said the media tour reflected the growing collaboration between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government in delivering development projects.

“today’s visit is particularly significant because it reflects the growing spirit of collaboration between the Federal Government and Abia State Government in advancing development, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the welfare of our people,” Kanu said.

“The projects scheduled for inspection during this tour stand as visible evidence that development thrives when governments work together in the interests of the people.”

He commended the Presidency, particularly the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, for initiating the media tour.

“We therefore commend the Presidency, particularly the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, for conceiving this initiative and for providing Nigerians with an opportunity to witness firsthand the projects and achievements being delivered across the country.”

Also speaking on behalf of Governor Alex Otti, Ikechukwu Emetu, the Deputy Governor said the administration’s achievements aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The progress being recorded is not merely reflected in statistics. It is visible in the renewed confidence of our people and the ongoing transformation of communities across the state, which reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Emetu said.

He urged members of the media team to independently verify developments in the state.

“We welcome scrutiny because we believe that genuine progress should be seen, assessed and reported objectively.”

Some of the projects in Abia State, included the 67.6-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Ohafia Road, the Ohafia-Umuahia Federal Road, Omenuko Bridge, the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Umuahia, the Onuinyan Bende Renewed Hope Housing Project, the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, sections of the Owerri-Abia-Imo Federal Road and the Abia section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.