Juliet Akoje In Abuja.
The Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN) campaign has concluded its three-day project assessment and media tour of Kogi State, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms are beginning to translate into visible infrastructure development, stronger public institutions and expanded opportunities for citizens across the state.
The movement, which is conducting a nationwide project assessment tour, said Kogi State represents one of the clearest examples of how the Federal Government’s economic policies and increased allocations to states are supporting the implementation of major development projects and improving access to social and economic opportunities.
According to a statement issued by the media team on Wednesday, the nationwide assessment tour is being led by RTIFN Deputy Director-General and veteran Nollywood actor, Mr. Zack Orji, with the objective of independently assessing, documenting and showcasing the impact of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda across the country.
The delegation included the Director of Town Hall and Special Duties, Farida Deborah Ibrahim; members of the Media Directorate; Youth and Student Engagement Committee; Humanitarian Directorate; Welfare Committee; the National Women Leader; as well as other state officials and members of the movement.
During the three-day tour, the delegation visited major government projects and institutions across Kogi State, engaging government officials, students and ordinary citizens in an effort to obtain firsthand accounts of the impact of ongoing federal and state interventions.
Speaking during the exercise, Orji said the nationwide assessment was designed to give Nigerians verifiable evidence of how increased allocations to states and the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration are contributing to development.
According to him, the delegation decided to physically inspect projects and engage beneficiaries because Nigerians deserve to see how public resources are being converted into tangible development.
“We are here to showcase how the increased allocation to the state is affecting the lives of the citizens. We have gone round to see projects ourselves because Nigerians deserve to know how these resources are being translated into development,” he said.
Among the major projects inspected by the delegation in Lokoja were the newly commissioned Senator Oluremi Tinubu Pension and Treasury House, the newly constructed Audit House, the International Market, the Lokoja International Airport and sections of the Abuja-Lokoja concrete highway project.
The team also visited tertiary institutions, including the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, and Kogi State University, Kabba, where members interacted with students benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) programme introduced under the Tinubu administration.
At the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Pension and Treasury House, the Kogi State Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr. Mark Okala, explained that the facility was designed to strengthen financial administration while improving service delivery to pensioners and public servants.
Okala said the modern facility provides a conducive working environment for the State Pension Commission and the Office of the Accountant-General, adding that the improved fiscal position of the state has enhanced its capacity to undertake major infrastructure projects.
He attributed the development to what he described as the improved fiscal environment created by the Federal Government’s economic reforms, particularly the increased allocations available to states.
“The idea behind this project is to provide a conducive environment for the Pension Commission as well as the Office of the Accountant-General. This has been made possible because of the magnanimity of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose policies have increased allocations to states, enabling governors to undertake projects that directly impact the lives of the people,” Okala stated.
The RTIFN delegation also inspected the newly completed Audit House, which now serves as the permanent headquarters of the offices of the Auditor-General for the State and Local Governments.
Officials explained that the facility is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and public financial management by providing a modern working environment for auditors responsible for monitoring government expenditure and ensuring compliance with approved budgetary provisions.
The movement said the significant increase in monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), following the Tinubu administration’s fiscal reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and exchange rate adjustments, had given states greater financial capacity to invest in critical infrastructure and public services.
At CUSTECH, Osara, the delegation held interactive sessions with beneficiaries of the NELFUND student loan programme, who shared personal accounts of how the initiative had helped to ease financial barriers to higher education.
One of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Augustine of the Department of Nursing Science, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for introducing the programme, saying the intervention had given many Nigerian students renewed hope of pursuing their academic ambitions despite financial difficulties.
“I want to appreciate the President for this wonderful initiative. We, the Nigerian students who are benefiting from this, will never cease to bless you. Some students do not get the opportunity to further their education because of lack of funds. But the NELFUND loan initiative has brought hope to universities across Nigeria. It gives every Nigerian student the confidence to pursue academic goals without finances becoming a barrier,” Augustine said.
NELFUND was established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed by President Tinubu in 2024.
“The initiative provides interest-free loans to eligible students in public tertiary institutions to support tuition and upkeep. Since disbursement commenced, thousands of students across the country have benefited from the programme, providing financial relief and easing access to tertiary education, particularly for students from low-income families”
The RTIFN delegation described the testimonies from the students as evidence that the student loan scheme is helping to expand access to higher education and reduce financial pressure on Nigerian undergraduates.
The nationwide assessment also took the delegation to Kogi East, where members continued the inspection and documentation of federal and state-backed projects as part of the movement’s broader effort to independently assess development initiatives across the country.
At the end of the tour, RTIFN commended Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, for what it described as his efforts to complement the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects across the state.
The movement said the state’s investments in public finance infrastructure, transportation, education and institutional development demonstrated what it described as prudent utilisation of increased federal allocations made possible by the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration.
RTIFN reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its nationwide project verification and assessment exercise, stressing that the initiative is aimed at providing Nigerians with factual information about government policies and development projects through direct engagement with communities, government officials and beneficiaries.
The movement however said it would continue to visit project sites and engage citizens across the country to document the impact of government interventions and provide Nigerians with firsthand accounts of how public policies and resources are translating into development.
