Tinubu Hosts Uzodinma In Lagos As Details Of Their Meeting Surface

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday met with Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, in Lagos, where he urged state governors to ensure that Nigerians feel the direct impact of his administration’s economic reforms.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Uzodinma briefed journalists after the meeting, saying he had gone to Lagos to update the President on developments in the country during his recent working visit to Europe and the activities of the Progressive Governors Forum.

Uzodinma described his discussion with Tinubu as a “very quality conversation,” noting that the meeting also focused on efforts by governors to communicate the administration’s policies and achievements to Nigerians.

He said the governors were preparing to intensify their campaign and public engagement on the administration’s reforms following the President’s return from Europe.

According to the governor, the focus of the reform agenda has now shifted beyond implementation and publicity to ensuring that ordinary Nigerians experience tangible benefits from the policies.

He cited the Compressed Natural Gas initiative as an example, arguing that the reduction in operating costs for CNG-powered buses should translate into lower transportation fares for commuters.

Uzodinma urged transport operators to pass the savings from cheaper CNG to passengers, saying such a move would create benefits for both transporters and commuters.

“We are not going to only sit here and sing the songs of reform. We are going to make sure that the benefits, the real beneficiaries of the reform policy, are the people,” he said.

The Imo governor also pointed to the financial situation of his state as an example of what he described as the impact of the Federal Government’s reforms on state finances.

Uzodinma recalled that when he assumed office in 2021, Imo often struggled to meet its financial obligations after paying workers’ salaries. He said the situation had improved, with the state now able to pay salaries while also funding development projects.

“Today, we pay salaries as we do and we have money to do all the achievements that we have recorded in the state,” he said.

He added that similar developments were being witnessed in other states, with governors implementing various projects and programmes.

Uzodinma expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his reform policies and said governors had been given the responsibility of ensuring that the benefits ultimately reach the masses.

He stressed that the success of the reforms should be measured not only by government announcements but by the extent to which Nigerians experience improvements in their daily lives.