Tinubu: Nigeria's Underdevelopment Stems From Lack of Long-Term Planning

President Bola Tinubu has pinpointed the persistent failure of past administrations to implement robust, long-term planning frameworks as the critical impediment to Nigeria's sustainable development. Addressing a delegation of Enugu State stakeholders at the State House in Abuja, the President lamented the detrimental practice of attempting to finance long-term, essential projects with inadequate short-term resources, a mismatch that has severely hampered national progress.

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What has been the problem in the past is Nigeria trying to finance long-term projects with short-term funding. We have not embarked upon serious long-term outlook for our country

Tinubu, however, conveyed a strong sense of optimism regarding Nigeria's future trajectory, attributing this positive outlook to the emergence of committed and visionary leadership at the subnational levels. He specifically lauded Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, highlighting his transformative leadership and effective utilization of federal resources. The President noted that the tangible improvements in health, education, infrastructure, and citizen welfare in Enugu serve as compelling evidence that his administration's economic reforms are yielding real, positive outcomes.

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You have been a transformative leader, and we genuinely appreciate what is evolving in Enugu today in a manner that we are witnessing a rapid development of the state.

The President further observed that the political realignments favoring the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are largely a consequence of these successful economic reforms. Governor Mbah's alignment with the APC, he stated, is a testament to the sustained federal support and the demonstrable progress achieved in Enugu State. Tinubu assured continued collaboration, stating, "We will continue to work together, think together and build together a nation that will be a pride of place for all our citizens."

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The results you are outlining, like security, infrastructure, education and health care, are not abstract. They are the evidence that reform is working, that difficult decisions are yielding real outcomes and that Nigeria is moving forward.

This administration's focus on critical infrastructure, such as the Port-Harcourt to Enugu railway line and power sector reforms, is seen as the bedrock of economic development. The President's engagement with governors, including those from other parties who acknowledge the productive partnership with the federal government, underscores a unifying approach. Tinubu believes that with leaders like Governor Mbah, Nigeria is firmly on the path to becoming a leading nation in Africa, capable of capitalizing on the continent's growth and economic opportunities.

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I can assure you we will continue to work together, think together and build together a nation that will be a pride of place for all our citizens.