…Lauds Ahmadu Bello’s virtues
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has assured that his administration will ensure equitable development across all regions of the country, with no area left behind.
This assurance was made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume in Kaduna State at a two-day interactive programme on Government-Citizen Engagement organised by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.
He said Minister’s interactions with stakeholders at the event will unveil empirical facts and figures that the North is not neglected.
Senator Akume, according to a statement by Yomi Odunuga,
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who highlighted key achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, spoke on several interventions of the present administration including economic reforms, education , health, security, Infrastructure and food security.
On economic reforms, the SGF said the Tinubu administration has implemented bold reforms to stabilise and grow the economy, including unifying the exchange rate and restructuring debt profiles.
While stressing that investments have been made in modernising security equipment and upskilling personnel, he listed major projects to include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto- Badagry super highway, ongoing rail projects (Kano-Maradi, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri), and housing initiatives.
Akume, who led a high-powered Federal Government delegation comprising Ministers, Director-Generals of many agencies and top political aides from the North and across the country, highlighted the Renewed Hope Agenda priorities to include reforming the economy for sustained growth, strengthening national security, boosting agriculture for food security, unlocking energy and natural resources and enhancing infrastructure and transportation.
Others are focusing on education, health, and social investment, accelerating diversification through industrialisation and innovation as well as improving governance for effective service delivery.
According to him, “The removal of fuel subsidy, though painful, has been a necessary reform that saved trillions of Naira.
“The Palliative Measures Plan and interventions through state governments, MSME support, and public transportation upgrades are mitigating the impacts.
“The savings are now being redirected into critical infrastructure and human development while states are receiving increased allocations for development,” he said.
Reflecting on the theme of the event, ‘Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Development,’ the SGF said the Renewed Hope Agenda has been a pragmatic vision built on pillars of good governance, including transparency, accountability, participation, responsiveness, equity, rule of law, and inclusivity, going beyond just a campaign slogan.
His words: “The economic reform strategies are designed to create a robust, diversified, and resilient economy.
“By fostering an environment conducive to investment and innovation, the administration aims to stimulate growth across all sectors, reduce unemployment, and ensure equitable wealth distribution.”
