Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, says increased revenue resulting from the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has enabled his administration to execute infrastructure projects valued at about N90 billion without borrowing from banks.
Sule stated this on Saturday at the Government House, Lafia, while receiving the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team, led by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The team visited Nasarawa State to inspect completed and ongoing Federal Government and state infrastructure projects as part of a media tour designed to assess the impact of government policies and investments on citizens.
Nasarawa’s Monthly Allocation Rose to N14bn-N16bn
The governor said the removal of the petrol subsidy and other reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration had significantly increased the resources available to state governments for development.
According to Sule, Nasarawa State’s monthly allocation, which previously ranged between N3.8 billion and N4.5 billion, has increased to an average of N14 billion to N16 billion.
He said the improved revenue had strengthened the state’s capacity to undertake major capital projects without relying on bank loans.
Sule recalled that the state previously faced difficulties raising N5 billion through borrowing for a single market project, contrasting that experience with its current ability to execute projects worth approximately N90 billion without bank financing.
> “All the projects we are doing in Nasarawa State today, without borrowing from the bank, is as a result of President Bola Tinubu and his support.
> “So you must give him the credit for that,” the governor said.
Sule Urges Journalists to Assess Impact of Government Policies
The governor urged journalists to go beyond reporting government projects and examine the policies and revenue mechanisms that make such projects possible.
He said the media had a responsibility to hold governments accountable for the management of public resources while also reporting objectively on policies that produce positive outcomes.
“It is not just to take pictures of flyovers and pictures of this. No. It’s to understand what is driving these policies,” Sule said.
He urged journalists to examine how state governments deploy available resources and the extent to which such spending improves the lives of residents.
Sule stressed that constructive criticism and recognition of positive performance were both important to strengthening public accountability and encouraging effective governance.
Media Team Inspects Nassarawa Infrastructure Projects
During the tour, the media team inspected the Nasarawa State Secretariat, where the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Labaran Magaji (SAN), conducted members around the complex housing about 11 ministries.
Magaji said the secretariat was developed to consolidate ministries that had previously operated from scattered and dilapidated offices.
He attributed the project to improved revenue accruing to the state through Federation allocations.
The secretariat is powered by a one-megawatt solar power plant, while the state government is considering extending excess electricity to neighbouring communities. Electric vehicle charging facilities are also being considered as part of the development.
The team also inspected the Shandam Road and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange, a project valued at about N16 billion, before proceeding to the Emir’s Palace to assess flood-control projects.
Another facility inspected was the Wing Commander Abdullah Ibrahim Skill Acquisition Centre, which is being used by the Industrial Training Fund and other agencies for skills acquisition, vocational training and human-capital development.
Lithium Processing, Roads Feature in Inspection
The team is expected to inspect the Avatar Lithium Processing Plant in Nasarawa Local Government Area, described as one of Africa’s major lithium-processing facilities.
It will also visit the Diamond Energy Lithium Processing Plant, another facility in Nasarawa Local Government Area that was recently inaugurated by Vice-President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Tinubu.
The inspection programme also covers the reconstruction of the Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji Road and the dualisation of the Keffi-Karu-Abuja Road, including a dual overhead bridge designed to ease traffic along the corridor.
Sule said the twin flyovers in Karu had contributed to increased property values in surrounding areas, demonstrating that infrastructure investments could generate economic benefits beyond improved transportation and reduced congestion.
Governor Highlights Healthcare, Agriculture and Mining
Beyond infrastructure, Sule urged journalists to examine the state government’s interventions in healthcare, agriculture and mining, which he described as key pillars of Nasarawa’s development strategy.
On healthcare, he highlighted the expansion of tertiary medical services across the state’s three senatorial zones, including the State Specialist Hospital, alongside the existing teaching hospital and Federal Medical Centre.
On food security, the governor disclosed that 10,000 hectares of land had been committed to rice production as part of efforts to increase agricultural output.
He also highlighted the rapid development of Nasarawa’s mining sector, particularly lithium processing.
Sule attributed the growth to supportive Federal Government policies aimed at encouraging local value addition and greater economic benefits for mineral-producing states.
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