By Vincent Ekpo
Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday met with ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Abuja, where they highlighted what they described as major economic gains under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and called for stronger foreign investment partnerships with states.
The meeting, organised under the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and tagged “Deepening Partnership for Democratic Stability, Investment, Development Cooperation and Inclusive Prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” brought together 31 APC governors, ministers and members of the diplomatic community.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, told the gathering that Nigeria’s economic outlook had improved significantly since President Tinubu assumed office three years ago.
According to him, the administration’s reforms had shifted international perception of Nigeria from uncertainty to growing confidence.
Uzodinma said the country was witnessing signs of economic recovery following what he described as “foundational repairs” undertaken by the federal government.
He disclosed that states now receive between N700 billion and N800 billion in monthly allocations, with February 2026 allocations hitting N784 billion, representing a 23 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
The governor stated that many states were now enjoying improved fiscal stability, adding that the era of governors seeking emergency bailouts from the federal government to pay workers’ salaries had ended.
He attributed the increase in state revenues to key reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market.
On the economy, Uzodinma said Nigeria’s gross foreign reserves rose to $49.4 billion as of the end of March 2026, enough to cover 13 months of imports.
He also noted that diaspora remittances had increased from about $200 million monthly in 2023 to an average of $600 million monthly, while the gap between official and parallel market exchange rates had narrowed to below two per cent.
The governor urged foreign governments and investors to take advantage of what he described as a more favourable investment climate in Nigeria.
He cited the recent Nigeria-United Kingdom Strategic Partnership, formalised during President Tinubu’s state visit to London, as a model for deeper international cooperation.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, also addressed the diplomats, saying Nigerian states were open to partnerships in infrastructure financing, investment promotion, climate-smart agriculture, skills development, migration management and security cooperation.
Bagudu said the federal structure of Nigeria allowed states to tailor development initiatives to local realities and priorities.
Responding to concerns raised by some diplomats on democratic governance, the minister pointed to court rulings that went against the ruling APC in states such as Zamfara, Kano and Plateau as evidence of judicial independence.
He noted that President Tinubu accepted the judgments and encouraged party members to respect the decisions of the courts.
Bagudu further argued that the increase in the number of APC governors since 2022 was driven by confidence in the administration’s reform policies rather than political pressure.
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