In a meeting at the State House in Abuja on Friday, President Bola Tinubu called upon All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to focus on policies that prioritize the well-being of all Nigerians and transcend political affiliations.
Tinubu emphasized the importance of inclusivity, ownership, and sustainability in development policies, stressing that these elements are crucial for their relevance in people’s lives.
He urged the governors to work towards healing and unifying the country through a collective national vision, emphasizing that Nigeria, with its abundant human, natural, and material resources, should not face infrastructural decay or a lack of quality education and health facilities.
“We are not a cursed country, but blessed,” the president asserted, as he encouraged a re-engineering of the entire financial system for inclusivity, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Among the key points discussed was the need to comprehensively implement the school feeding program across all states.
Tinubu urged governors, including those from the opposition, to focus on bringing all children back to school and measuring success not as statistics but in terms of economic growth and empowerment. The president proposed the establishment of a committee to explore and refine the methods for effective implementation.
Acknowledging the potential of the school feeding program to stimulate investments in agriculture, Tinubu commended the efforts of former Kano State governor and APC Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who had worked on a proposal for consideration.
Addressing security concerns, the president revealed plans to deploy forest guards equipped with modern technology and weapons. He also highlighted the creation of special police units to secure the solid mineral and marine economic sectors, with a particular focus on protecting Nigeria’s vast marine economy.
Expressing gratitude, Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, thanked President Tinubu for involving governors in policy design and implementation. Uzodinma pledged continued support, describing the governors as “able, willing, and capable ambassadors.”
