President Bola Tinubu has urged state governments in the Federation to judiciously utilise their revenues and ensure their administrations prioritise projects that improve the standard of living of the populace.

Tinubu, who also called for better investments in the health and education sectors, stated this in a State House release issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The call comes on the heels of the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, titled “Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities.”

According to the statement, Tinubu confirmed the World Bank’s report, indicating that his administration’s economic reforms are “delivering results and placing the economy on a firmer footing for sustained growth.”

Tinubu said that the “difficult but necessary decisions” taken on the removal of the fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market and the fiscal discipline implemented by his administration have raised the country’s revenues and stabilised the economy.

“These findings confirm that the difficult but necessary decisions to remove the petrol subsidy, unify the foreign exchange market and strengthen fiscal discipline have raised revenues, stabilised the economy and created fiscal space for every tier of government to invest in its people.

“The dividends of reform are becoming visible. But more work remains to ensure they fully translate into better living standards for every household, starting with lower food prices and decent jobs for our young people.

“Our administration will stay the course of reform and redouble its focus on inclusive growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The President further stated that his administration would ensure that prosperity is shared by all Nigerians by expanding targeted cash transfers, accelerating the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas, increasing agricultural productivity, and improving access to affordable healthcare and quality education.

Tinubu added, “I urge state governments to use their higher revenues more prudently and prioritise projects that improve the living standards of Nigerians, and the health and education of our people.”

The report, according to the Presidency, showed that despite the conflict in the Middle East, Nigeria’s economy grew 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the first half of 2025.

“The World Bank projects growth to average at least 4.4 per cent between 2026 and 2028,” it stated.

The report, as quoted by the Presidency, noted that “inflation fell from 27.6 per cent in January 2025 to 15.2 per cent in December 2025. Higher global fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict have since slowed the decline, but the World Bank expects inflation to ease to about 12 per cent by 2028.

“Nigeria’s external position also strengthened. The current account surplus rose to US$12.0 billion, or 7.0 per cent of GDP, in the first half of 2026, up from US$8.6 billion a year earlier. Gross external reserves increased from US$45.5 billion at the end of 2025 to US$53.8 billion at the end of August 2026.”

Tinubu said the World Bank report “credits the reforms since 2023 with raising federation revenues by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, with states as the largest beneficiaries.”

The President noted further that the states used the additional resources to boost their capital spending by 151 per cent in real terms over the same period.

“Most of the increase went to roads and other transport, agriculture, energy and housing. Twenty-nine of 33 states shifted their spending towards economic infrastructure, while real social spending per person rose in all but one state.

“The World Bank further found that internally generated revenue grew in real terms in 31 of 35 states; 21 states reduced their debt-to-GDP ratio between 2021 and 2025; and Nigeria’s overall public debt is expected to fall from 40.0 per cent of GDP in 2025 to 38.1 per cent in 2026.”

Tinubu commended the Economic Management Team led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele; state governors and all stakeholders for their cooperation in implementing his administration’s reforms.

“I assure Nigerians that the best is yet to come under the Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0, which will accelerate the delivery of shared prosperity for all Nigerians,” Tinubu added.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the illegal movement of banned and unregistered pesticides across Nigeria’s borders.

NAFDAC issued the warning in a statement signed by its Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, at the weekend.

The agency warned that the circulation of unsafe agrochemicals poses severe risks to public health, food safety, and the environment.

Adeyeye stated that the agency had intensified surveillance and enforcement operations to dismantle illegal pesticide supply chains and prevent prohibited products from entering the Nigerian market through neighbouring countries and unauthorised routes.

NAFDAC expressed concern that pesticides lacking required regulatory assessment could infiltrate local markets via informal distribution channels.

“The illegal movement of banned and unregistered pesticides across our borders poses a serious threat to public health, food safety, and the environment,” Adeyeye stated.

The agency disclosed that it seized banned agrochemicals valued at more than N800m across Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states in 2025 as part of efforts to curb the circulation of unsafe agricultural chemicals.

It added that enforcement operations conducted in the North-West zone between September 2024 and July 2026 resulted in the interception and seizure of 2,974 cartons of paraquat-based pesticides valued at approximately N148.7m.

According to the agency, the operations also led to the recovery of 120 cartons of chlorpyrifos-based pesticides worth more than N17m.

NAFDAC further disclosed that recent operations in Kebbi State resulted in the interception of 5,619 cartons of paraquat-based products and 500 cartons of atrazine-based products.

The agency noted that it had sealed four unauthorized pesticide and agrochemical manufacturing facilities in Bichi, Kano State, while strengthening collaboration with security and law enforcement authorities to disrupt illegal supply networks and prosecute offenders.

“Our enforcement operations are aimed at dismantling illegal supply chains, preventing prohibited products from reaching the Nigerian market, and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice,” NAFDAC said.

The agency explained that its intensified enforcement followed comprehensive scientific reviews and stakeholder consultations that led to the phased ban of selected pesticide active ingredients, including paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine.

It noted that the bans on paraquat, chlorpyrifos, and atrazine took effect on January 1, 2024, November 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, respectively, with applicable phase-out grace periods concluding on January 1, 2026.

Additionally, NAFDAC prohibited the importation, manufacture, and open-market or supermarket sale of 100ml pack sizes of dichlorvos, popularly known as DDVP, due to widespread concerns over its misuse on consumable agricultural produce.

While emphasizing the vital role of approved pesticides in agricultural productivity, NAFDAC stressed that their handling must strictly comply with regulatory standards to protect consumers, farmers, and ecosystems.

The agency warned that even officially approved agrochemicals could pose severe health hazards if misused, incorrectly applied, sprayed on unauthorized crops, or harvested before recommended pre-harvest intervals elapsed.

Consequently, NAFDAC urged farmers and agro-input users to purchase certified products exclusively from licensed dealers, adhere strictly to label instructions, apply recommended quantities, observe pre-harvest safety intervals, and dispose of empty containers safely.

“Farmers and other pesticide users must strictly follow approved label instructions, observe recommended pre-harvest intervals, and ensure the safe disposal of empty containers to protect consumers and the environment,” the agency cautioned.

Furthermore, NAFDAC disclosed that it had trained more than 2,000 agro-input dealers nationwide to promote chemical authenticity and encourage responsible pesticide management.

It called on manufacturers, importers, distributors, farmers, and members of the public to support ongoing regulatory enforcement by complying with statutory guidelines and reporting suspected illegal or unsafe products through its nearest offices or official reporting channels.

As part of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to people-oriented policing, the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Rivers State Police Command has donated N1.15 million to 11 patients at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt.

The gesture was part of activities to mark the official launch of the unit in Port Harcourt, at the weekend.

The VCRU team, led by its Commander, CSP Julian Wealth, visited the children’s and postnatal wards of RSUTH, last Thursday, where it provided financial assistance to patients to help offset their medical bills.

Wealth said the initiative was designed to demonstrate that the Police were concerned not only about fighting crime and apprehending suspects, but also with the welfare of members of the public.

He explained that the intervention was part of the unit’s efforts to strengthen public confidence in the Police and promote a relationship built on trust, compassion and mutual understanding.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the people-oriented policing philosophy of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, which seeks to foster a police force that enjoys the confidence and support of the people it serves.

Wealth said the donation was intended to reassure members of the public that police officers remained committed to supporting vulnerable people, particularly those facing difficult circumstances in hospitals.

He commended the IGP for providing the platform for officers to demonstrate compassion beyond their conventional security responsibilities, adding that the unit was determined to sustain the spirit of service to the community.

As part of the outreach, the VCRU team also visited the Compassionate Centre for Physically Handicapped Children in Trans-Amadi and the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and Homes for Children at Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.

The two children’s homes received food items and essential supplies, including three bags of rice, one bag of beans, a bag of garri, five cartons of noodles, packs of tissue paper, and five packs of soap and baby diapers.

A representative of the David Bassey Ikpeme Foundation and Homes for Children, Mrs Koko Bassey, thanked the police team for the donation and reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to caring for children rescued by the police and entrusted to its care.

Similarly, a representative of the Compassionate Centre for Physically Handicapped Children, Sister Mercy Akpan, appreciated the VCRU for the gesture and commended police officers for their sacrifices in protecting lives and property.

He noted that the outreach reflected the importance of strengthening relations between the police and the communities they serve.

 By: King Onunwor