In celebration of the New Year, governors in Nigeria have renewed their commitment to good governance to the electorate.
The governors, who rolled out different plans for their people, promised them better deals in 2025.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State expressed commitment to good governance and accountability to the state’s citizens.
He urged citizens to continue to be patient and resilient as his administration works to address the prevailing hardship.
In his New Year message, Governor Mohammed noted the administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and urban renewal despite limited resources.
He pledged to enhance governance through stakeholder consultations and community engagement, emphasising accountability and a people-centred approach.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to security, assuring residents that criminal elements will find no haven in Bauchi State.
He called on citizens to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and to maintain peace in their areas.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule explained how his administration navigated the turbulent economic landscape, which almost brought the country to its knees in 2024.
He pointed out that the economic challenges were occasioned by a sharp increase in the exchange rate, global inflationary pressures, and food supply shortages, among other things.
“These factors were compounded by an overstretched government budget, rising unemployment, youth restiveness, and other challenges,” he observed.
He made these comments while giving an insight into the performance of the 2024 state budget.
He said his administration not only rebounded from the challenges but also implemented necessary mechanisms that made it surpass its 2023 performance.
Governor Sule noted that, with the strategies implemented, the administration increased its expenditure from N83.8 billion in 2023 to N133.01 billion by the third quarter of 2024
He promised a better deal in 2025.
His Kebbi State counterpart, Nasir Idris, urged Kebbi people and other citizens in the country to exhibit peace and unity in the new year 2025 for the nation’s development.
Making the appeal in Birnin Kebbi in his New Year message. Idris also requested Kebbi people and Nigerians to always embrace peace and respect the constituted authorities regardless of ethnic, religious, and cultural differences so that the state and the country remain in absolute peace and unity.
For his part, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang decried the habit of some individuals who have taken child trafficking as a business in the state. He warned that the state government on his watch would take decisive action against those who indulge in this criminal activity.
He also encouraged parents to take responsibility for raising their children and safeguarding them against this menace.
Mutfwang stated this during his state broadcast to mark the New Year celebration.
In the South West, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assured residents that 2025 would be a better year than 2024. He said his administration was determined to deliver many projects and services that would improve the lives of the state’s residents.
He also charged the state workforce to be dedicated and committed to their duties and to help his administration achieve its goal.
Sanwo-Olu, who said this at the first-year service held at Marina, added that he was convinced that 2025 would be a better year because his administration was committed to rendering more services to the state’s people to improve their living standards.
He said, “I am convinced, and that is why my voice is bright this morning: 2025 will be far, far better than 2024 in all aspects of endeavour. But it is beyond just mouthing or saying it. Yet there is power in what you say, but you must implement it. We have to take a further step to put it into action.”
On his part, Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde assured that his administration would do more for the people in 2025.
The governor, who stated this in his New Year message aired on the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) on Wednesday, noted that the administration would embark on decisive actions to increase Oyo State residents’ purchasing power and ease the economic strains they face.
Makinde stated this during Tuesday night’s Crossover Service at the Livingspring Chapel International, Ibadan.
He said he would remain focused and ensure that the state’s residents get value for the mandate given to him.
He listed upgrading the Ibadan Airport, Alakia, to international status, the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road, and further education and enlightenment of residents as some of the projects the government would embark upon in the New Year.
Also in the South-South region, Delta State Governor Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, thanked Deltans for their continued support of his administration in the past 19 months and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the state through massive investments in infrastructure and human capital development.
He assured the people of the state of greater democratic dividends in 2025 and called for more prayers and support for his administration and the state.
In his new year message contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, Oborevwori expressed gratitude to God for seeing Deltans and residents through 2024 and into 2025, remarking that last year was quite challenging for the state and the nation.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State assessed his scorecard retrospectively over the last 19 months in office and gave himself a pass mark, just as he gave assurance of more significant improvement from 2025 forward.
In a state broadcast on Wednesday to usher in the new year, the governor vowed sustainable development across virtually all sectors of the state’s economy under his administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint. He explained that the improved N995 billion appropriation for the 2025 fiscal year would be the driving force and development catalyst.
He said: “In 19 months since you gave me the mandate to be your governor, and in line with our governance and economic blueprint, the Arise Agenda, we have worked twice as hard to translate the vision into measurable and impactful levels.
“We came with an agenda to engender an agricultural revolution to ensure food security for our people. On that, I boldly say that we are right on course. Thank you again for heeding our clarion call to return to the farm. From what I have seen and heard, we hope to experience a bountiful harvest this year.
You hold power to drive economic growth – Tinubu
In a related development President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday in Lagos, emphasised the critical role of state governors in driving Nigeria’s development and prosperity, saying their leadership at the subnational level is central to achieving food security, economic prosperity and rapid national growth.
During a New Year homage by Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at his Ikoyi residence, the president in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga expressed his gratitude for their support and collaboration just as he highlighted key areas requiring joint effort for the nation’s progress.
“You are the most important link to Nigeria’s prosperity and development. The Federal Government accounts for about 30 to 35 per cent of the allocated revenue; the rest comes to you. The agricultural value chain depends on you. You own the land, and the job is in your hands,” he said.
President Tinubu called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to address pressing challenges, including local government autonomy, agricultural productivity, and currency stability.
Expressing his commitment to local government development and autonomy, the President stressed its importance for grassroots development and dispelled rumours of disagreement with the governors.
“We will not fight within us. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. You can restore hope by effectively fulfilling what the people expect at the grassroots level.
“There were gossips that we had disagreements on local government autonomy. No. Just drive development at the local government. Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration. Let’s do it together and ensure Nigeria is better off for it.”
President Tinubu urged governors to prioritise agricultural growth as a pathway to economic stability.
“We have to work harder, grow more, and ensure the situation of our currency improves. Nigeria will see prosperity, but it requires consistent effort from all of us,” he said.
He also urged the governors to take pride in their efforts and acknowledged their progress across the states.:
“There is no state we cannot visit and be proud of its development. We have better allocations now. Let me take the abuse; you take the privileges. Together, we will build a nation we are all proud of,” he said.
Reflecting on his leadership journey in the last 19 months, the President expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to thrive given the resilience and leadership demonstrated by the administration.
“I am glad I asked for this job, and Nigerians gave me the mandate. We’ll be on this voyage together. I thank all of you for where we are today and where we are heading,” he said.
The President announced that he will be visiting Enugu State on January 4 as part of his planned visits to some states of the federation.
Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, praised the policies of the government
“The policies are working. In agriculture, I was in Jigawa. The complaint in Jigawa was that there was a bumper harvest, but because of the strength of our currency, traders exported the harvest.
“So, most of us are encouraging ourselves to buy bumper stocks into our silos, store them for the rainy day. So, in terms of agriculture, the policy is working. We’ll continue to deepen that and ensure we are 100% sustained in food security and feed the whole of West Africa,” he said.
The governor urged the President to visit various states to see the ongoing transformations and progress firsthand.