Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying state governments are pleased with their impact on development at the grassroots.
Mohammed spoke on Monday when he received the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, during a courtesy visit to Bauchi.
The governor said the Federal Government’s reforms had increased the resources available to states, creating greater opportunities for infrastructure development and improved public services.
He said, “We are always proud of this kind of partnership. We, as subnationals, are always looking forward to the Federal Government bringing good things to us. We don’t always oppose and criticise for the sake of criticising. When we see good things, we say it. The President has done so well in so many aspects, especially in the area of finance, because the states are getting more.”
Mohammed also applauded the Federal Government’s efforts in the health sector, particularly the provision of diagnostic centres and other medical infrastructure across the country.
He said stronger cooperation between the Federal Government and state governments would expand access to quality healthcare and improve living standards.
“We are very grateful for what you have brought to us. Definitely, more Nigerians will have access to improved healthcare and a better standard of living,” he added.
The governor also thanked Tinubu for his interventions in the security sector, particularly the establishment of two military battalions in Bauchi State.
He said the measures taken by the Federal Government had helped restore peace and facilitated the return of displaced residents to their communities.
“I want to really affirm our gratitude to Mr President, especially in the area of security. He has just established two battalions, one in Alkaleri and another one in Tafawa Balewa.
“The people of Bauchi are very proud of him. When we were almost overrun by bandits, nobody was coming to our aid. I went to him, and he responded. He sent a high-powered military contingent under the National Security Adviser, the military services and all security organisations. They really removed all those who were trying to destroy our peace.”
Mohammed assured the visiting ministers that the state government remained committed to deepening its partnership with the Federal Government to improve the wellbeing of residents.
“We are ready to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that at least we improve the quality of life of our people,” he said.
Earlier, Pate explained that the delegation had visited Bauchi to commission newly completed health facilities developed under the Federal Government’s health sector expansion programme.
He said the projects included a world-class radiodiagnostic centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, as well as similar facilities being developed in other parts of the country.
Pate disclosed that the Federal Government had established 10 such centres as part of efforts to expand access to advanced diagnostic services and upgrade healthcare infrastructure.
“The reason for our visit is to commission major health infrastructure projects that we started about two years ago. Three years ago, we laid the foundation for the first one here. The world-class radiodiagnostic centre has now been completed.
“This makes the largest expansion of health infrastructure and equipment in Nigeria, beyond the 10 radiodiagnostic centres. There are world-class centres that are on the way.
“So, we are here to kick off by commissioning the world-class diagnostic centre at the teaching hospital, and then we will proceed to commission the other eight that have been completed all over Nigeria.”
According to the minister, the projects form part of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to transform healthcare through modern equipment, infrastructure, research and professional training.
He added that the Federal Government was also pursuing plans to establish multi-speciality hospitals as part of efforts to broaden healthcare services nationwide.
Oyedele, on his part, described the health projects as evidence of the practical benefits of Tinubu’s economic reforms.
He said the reforms were designed to stabilise the macroeconomy, rebuild investor confidence and strengthen institutions, thereby creating conditions for sustainable development projects.
“That project is a small picture of a larger point. The reforms we are pursuing nationally — stabilising the macro-economy, restoring investor confidence and strengthening our institutions — are not ends in themselves.
“They exist to make projects like the one we are commissioning today possible and to make them repeatable in Bauchi State and across the country.
“None of this happens without willing partners at the state level. Your Excellency’s engagement on these projects and on the broader question of how Bauchi State participates in national growth, from security to human capital, is exactly the kind of Federal-State alignment that we need.”
Oyedele assured that the Federal Government would continue working with state governments to convert economic stability into tangible improvements for Nigerians, particularly in healthcare, infrastructure and productive economic activities.