Tinubu's policy overhaul sparks N90bn construction surge in Nasarawa, says Governor Sule

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has attributed the execution of N90 billion worth of infrastructure projects without borrowing from banks to increased revenue from President Bola Tinubu’s reforms. This development was made possible by the removal of fuel subsidy and other reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, which substantially increased resources available to state governments for infrastructure and development.

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The governor disclosed this information when he received the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team, led by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, at the Government House, Lafia.

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The team, which arrived in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday, was in the state to inspect completed and ongoing Federal Government and state infrastructure projects across Nasarawa.

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According to Sule, Nasarawa’s monthly allocation, previously fluctuating between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion, had risen to an average of N14 billion to N16 billion due to the reforms.

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The increased revenue has enabled the state government to implement major infrastructure projects, including those valued at about N90 billion, without resorting to bank loans, a significant improvement from the past when the state struggled to raise N5 billion through borrowing for a single market project.

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Sule urged other state governments to acknowledge the reforms behind the improved financial resources, stating that all the projects being executed in Nasarawa State without borrowing from the bank were a result of President Bola Tinubu and his support.

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He emphasized the importance of giving credit to the President for the reforms, saying "So you must give him the credit for that," and also admonished journalists to recognize the positive effects of government policies.

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The governor explained that the broader purpose of the media tour was to help journalists understand how government policies translated into increased revenues, infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and improvements in citizens’ lives.

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He noted that it was not just about taking pictures of infrastructure projects, but about understanding what drove these policies, and urged journalists to determine what governors were doing with available resources and how such spending was affecting residents.

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Objective reporting, according to Sule, remained essential to public accountability, and constructive criticism and recognition of positive performance were necessary to strengthen accountability, encourage effective governance, and motivate leaders to deliver better results for citizens.

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The Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team inspected the Nasarawa State Secretariat, where the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Labaran Magaji (SAN), conducted members around the infrastructure housing about 11 ministries.

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The secretariat was established to consolidate ministries previously operating from scattered and dilapidated offices, following improved revenue accruing to the state through Federation allocations, and is powered by a one-megawatt solar plant.

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The government is considering extending excess electricity to neighbouring communities, alongside electric vehicle charging facilities, and the team also inspected the Shandam Road and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange, a N16 billion project.

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The inspection further included the Wing Commander Abdullah Ibrahim Skill Acquisition Centre, a state-of-the-art facility used by the Industrial Training Fund and other agencies for skills development and training, as well as flood-control works at the Emir’s Palace.

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The team is scheduled to inspect Avatar Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa Local Government Area, described as one of Africa’s major lithium processing facilities, and Diamond Energy Lithium Processing Plant, another major facility in Nasarawa Local Government.

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The inspection will also cover the reconstruction of the Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji Road and dualisation of the Keffi-Karu-Abuja Road, alongside a dual overhead bridge easing traffic along the corridor.

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Earlier, the governor noted that the twin flyovers in Karu had helped to increase property values around the area, demonstrating how infrastructure could stimulate wider economic benefits beyond improving transportation and reducing traffic congestion.

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Beyond physical infrastructure, Sule urged journalists to examine Nasarawa’s interventions in healthcare, agriculture, and mining, which are key components of the state’s development strategy.

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In healthcare, the governor highlighted the expansion of tertiary medical services across Nasarawa’s three senatorial zones, including the State Specialist Hospital, alongside the existing teaching hospital and Federal Medical Centre.

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On food security, Sule disclosed that 10,000 hectares had been committed to rice production, and he also highlighted the state’s expanding mining sector, particularly lithium processing.

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He attributed the successes in the sector to supportive Federal Government policies aimed at encouraging greater value addition within producing states.