Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, has commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its far-reaching economic and fiscal reforms, noting that the measures are strengthening the capacity of state governments to deliver critical development projects to Nigerians.
Governor Sule made the remarks when he received members of the Presidential Renewed Hope Ambassadors Media Team, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tunde Rahman, at the Government House in Lafia.
The visit preceded the team’s two-day working inspection tour of major projects and development initiatives of the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as key projects being executed by the Nasarawa State Government across the state.
Welcoming the media team, Governor Sule described the inspection tour as a valuable opportunity for journalists to witness firsthand the impact of ongoing government interventions and development projects on the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.
He urged the media to go beyond photographing infrastructure and provide the public with comprehensive reports on the policies, resources, processes and economic rationale behind the projects, as well as their tangible impact on communities.
According to the Governor, his administration welcomes scrutiny and constructive criticism, stressing that transparency, accountability and responsible reporting are essential components of effective governance.
“You are not just inspecting; you are also assessing. It is important that what you take back should be based on what you see,” Governor Sule said.
He encouraged journalists to independently verify government claims and present their findings objectively, noting that credible journalism strengthens public confidence in democratic institutions. 
Governor Sule further explained that the Nasarawa State Government had adopted a transparent approach to project implementation by making contract costs and other relevant information available to the public. This, he said, enables citizens to assess the relationship between public expenditure, quality and value delivered.
The Governor particularly commended the fiscal and economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, saying the reforms had significantly improved the financial resources available to states and enhanced their ability to implement development programmes.
He noted that the increased fiscal space had enabled Nasarawa State to undertake several critical projects while reducing reliance on bank borrowing.
According to him, improved internally generated revenue, prudent financial management and the broader fiscal reforms at the federal level were creating a stronger foundation for sustainable development across the states.
Governor Sule urged the media team to pay particular attention to the sectors that directly affect the wellbeing and economic prospects of citizens, including education, healthcare, agriculture, industrial development and solid minerals.
The Governor also said his administration had placed a major emphasis on vocational and technical education as part of its strategy to equip young people and other residents with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
He explained that the state had established skills acquisition centres where residents could acquire practical competencies in areas including electrical installation, machinery operation, carpentry, welding, automobile mechanics and agricultural mechanisation.
The initiative, he said, was designed to create a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth, encouraging entrepreneurship and reducing overdependence on government employment.
Governor Sule stressed that academic qualifications should be complemented with practical skills that enable citizens to become productive, self-reliant and capable of creating employment opportunities for others.
In the health sector, Governor Sule said his administration had continued to expand and upgrade healthcare infrastructure across Nasarawa State’s three senatorial zones.
He said the investments include the development of specialist medical facilities designed to improve access to quality healthcare and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the state for specialised treatment.
The Governor therefore encouraged the media team to look beyond highly visible infrastructure such as roads and flyovers and examine projects and interventions that directly improve the quality of life and economic wellbeing of citizens.
Governor Sule also highlighted the state’s agricultural development and food-security initiatives, including the development of large-scale agricultural land for commercial production.
He said the projects formed part of the state’s broader strategy to strengthen food production, attract investment into agriculture, create employment and contribute to Nigeria’s food-security objectives.
He expressed confidence that the inspection tour would enable members of the media to see the government’s agricultural interventions firsthand and provide Nigerians with a clearer understanding of their scope and expected impact.
On the solid minerals sector, Governor Sule noted the growing investment in lithium exploration, processing and other mining activities in Nasarawa State.
He explained that the state government’s policy of encouraging local processing of mineral resources extracted within the state was designed to promote value addition, attract investment, create jobs and ensure that greater economic benefits remain within Nasarawa.
According to the Governor, the growing lithium-processing industry is positioning Nasarawa as an emerging hub in Nigeria’s mining sector while opening new opportunities for industrialisation, employment and economic diversification.
Governor Sule maintained that the responsibility of the media goes beyond praising or criticising government, stressing that journalists have a duty to provide citizens with accurate, balanced and credible information about the utilisation of public resources.
He said constructive criticism enables governments to identify areas requiring improvement, while fair and factual reporting can encourage public officials to sustain and improve policies and projects that are delivering positive results.
The Governor therefore encouraged members of the Presidential Renewed Hope Ambassadors Media Team to ask questions, investigate claims and report their findings independently throughout the inspection exercise.
He also directed relevant government officials to provide the media team with unhindered access to all projects and facilities listed for inspection, including private-sector investments where the necessary arrangements had been made.
Governor Sule expressed concern that it would be counterproductive for journalists to travel long distances to inspect projects only to be denied access upon arrival.
He thanked the media team for choosing Nasarawa State for the working inspection tour and expressed optimism that the exercise would provide Nigerians with a clearer and more accurate picture of the development strides being recorded in the state.
The two-day inspection tour is expected to cover major government projects and private-sector investments across Nasarawa State, with particular focus on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, mining, industrial development and other initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods, creating jobs and strengthening the state’s economy.
The Governor’s engagement with the Presidential Renewed Hope Ambassadors Media Team reflects Nasarawa State’s commitment to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while promoting transparency, accountability and measurable development at the state level.