‘For the first time in our history, this strategic highway will open up the economic corridors of the Niger Delta, boost inter-state commerce, facilitate tourism, and provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs to our people. This is the kind of infrastructure that connects dreams to opportunities. It is a promise fulfilled and a legacy in motion’ -Senate President
MY SPEECH AT TODAY’S ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) SOUTH-SOUTH STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, WITH THE TITLE, HOPE, UNITED VISION: ADVANCING SOUTH-SOUTH PROGRESS UNDER PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU GCFR
I bring you warm greetings from the hallowed chambers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Let me begin by commending every one of you gathered here today—leaders, party faithful, and grassroots mobilizers. You are the torchbearers of the South-South, the vanguard of the All Progressives Congress in a region that holds the economic spine of our nation.
We are meeting at a time when the promises of democracy are gradually taking firm root in our region, not merely as aspirations but as visible, tangible realities. And for this, we must all pause to appreciate and commend the focused leadership and unwavering commitment of our President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the South-South is no longer an afterthought in national development. The landmark Coastal Highway Project, which runs from Lagos through Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and terminating in Calabar, is not only a symbol of visionary leadership but also an economic game-changer.
For the first time in our history, this strategic highway will open up the economic corridors of the Niger Delta, boost inter-state commerce, facilitate tourism, and provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs to our people. This is the kind of infrastructure that connects dreams to opportunities. It is a promise fulfilled and a legacy in motion.
But that is not all.
President Tinubu’s administration has continued the rehabilitation of the East-West Road, critical to the daily lives of millions in this region. The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway line is being revived, bringing renewed hope to abandoned communities.
In the energy sector, efforts are being made to harness the full potential of the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State and the ongoing development of modular refineries to ensure that the Niger Delta begins to benefit more directly from its resources.
We are also witnessing bold reforms in the oil and gas sector, such as the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which guarantees greater participation of host communities and improved transparency in revenue allocation.
In education, the administration has approved the take-off of federal institutions across the region—ensuring access to quality education and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
In addition, social investment programs are being recalibrated to reach more vulnerable Nigerians, while the Presidential CNG Initiative promises cleaner, cheaper fuel alternatives for transportation, directly impacting our urban and riverine economies.
Ladies and Gentlemen, transformation is not built only on structures—it is built on strategy. The Tinubu administration has unveiled strategic programs designed to turn potential into performance:
● The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund will prioritize regional projects, ensuring that states in the South-South get their fair share.
● The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative is aimed at reducing transport costs and boosting energy affordability.
● The Student Loan Scheme, now signed into law and operational, will open doors for our teeming youth to pursue higher education without the burden of immediate financial constraints.
● Digital Economy investments, including broadband expansion and tech hubs, will empower our youth and redefine innovation across our states.
Distinguished stakeholders, as we gather here in the historic city of Benin, we must speak with one voice and act with one purpose. The South-South must not stand on the sidelines of national development—we must take our place at the center of national progress.
Let us bury division and rally behind the APC, the only party with the structure, vision, and leadership to transform Nigeria.
Let us support President Tinubu—not just in words, but in mobilizing our people, enlightening our communities, and defending our future. As 2027 beckons, we should understand the times and know and do what all Nigerians should do: support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his transformation of our country.
We must prepare ourselves for the coming elections with unity, strategy, and grassroots engagement. The task ahead is not merely political—it is generational. It is about securing a better life for our children, peace in our communities, and prosperity in our region.
Let me close with this: the South-South has waited long for inclusive development. Today, we are witnessing it unfold. But we must not be weary in well-doing. With sustained support, vigilance, and unity, the Renewed Hope Agenda will blossom into renewed lives for our people.
Together, let us ensure that the APC remains the party of progress, the party of justice, and the party of the people.
Thank you, and may God bless the South-South, our great party, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
