President Bola Tinubu says Nigerians should expect the economy to “roar back to glory” by December 2024.
He also called for unity of purpose and deeper collaboration among the Federal Government, state governors and members of the National Assembly to achieve national development goals.
“Our economy has turned the corner. In the coming months, the economy will roar back to glory. By December, I hope we will have cause to celebrate,” Tinubu said when he received state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, who paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos on Friday.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed details of Friday’s talks in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu to governors and national assembly leadership: let us unite to make Nigeria greater.’
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who spoke on behalf of the President, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic resurgence and called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward.
“Let us unite, rally around our leader, and catapult this nation to a greater pedestal. By December, I hope we will have a reason to celebrate. Let us coalesce to take the nation to a greater pedestal,” Shettima said.
He cited the assembly of 27 governors, the NASS leadership, and some former governors in Lagos as a testament to Tinubu’s role as a unifying leader transcending ethnic and religious lines.
“This gathering cuts across ethnic, religious, and political lines. Here, we have Pastor Eno of Akwa Ibom and Father Hyacinth of Benue, and as the President was seated, he was asking, ‘Where is Wammako, where is Yari’?
“That is the hallmark of true leadership. What binds us together supersedes whatever it is that may divide us,” the Vice-President said.
Senate President Akpabio praised state governors for listening to diverse voices and consulting across political affiliations, a trait that, he said, mirrors President Tinubu’s leadership style.
Akpabio, who voiced support for a second term for the president, affirmed that Tinubu enjoys the support of a broad base of Nigerians across political divides.
He prayed, “As you coast home to victory for a second term, may all the governors seated here also coast home to a second-term victory in their states.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, expressed support for the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a huge project that will significantly impact the nation when completed.
He cited the stabilisation of the exchange rate and decreasing food prices as part of Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise the economy and improve living conditions for Nigerians.
AbdulRazaq attributed these improvements to the President’s initiatives and also lauded the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s funding for 8,800 primary healthcare centres.
“We commend your efforts because the ship is gradually turning. We have seen how the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar is coming down.
“The cost of food is coming down. The dry season harvest is commencing soon.
“Things are getting better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the governor said.
Therefore, he urged President Tinubu to persevere towards achieving economic stability. The governor also thanked the Federal Government for the support given to states, especially in distributing grains to alleviate food shortages.
He said, “We are here to support you, and we also thank you for the support that you are giving to the sub-nationals. Trucks are wheeling up across the nation, distributing grains. I have received, and most of the states have.
“Because of what you are doing, those who are hoarding food items are releasing them, and that is why the prices of food are coming down.”
Governor AbdulRazaq restated the governors’ commitment to supporting the President’s initiatives and pledged to continue complementing the federal government’s efforts in driving progress and prosperity across the nation.
Led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among others.
