Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says Nigeria will overcome insecurity through unity, reforms, and the Renewed Hope Agenda driving national development and security.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has affirmed that Nigeria will overcome insecurity and other pressing national challenges through unity, reform, and proactive governance.
Speaking during a one-day lecture marking the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary at Arewa House Auditorium, Kaduna, he called for national cohesion and local solutions to drive development.
The event, themed “65 Years of Nigeria’s Independence: The Journey So Far with the Renewed Hope Agenda in View,” was organized by the Arewa Think Tank.
It was chaired by former Senate President and ex-SGF, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, and attended by prominent leaders, including former governors Bisi Akande, Olusegun Osoba, Mukhtar Ramalan-Yero, and Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, alongside religious leaders, traditional rulers, and top industry captains.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that national unity is crucial for overcoming poverty, insecurity, and political division.
He said, “Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multicultural country. Our shared values far outweigh what divides us. With unity and faith, Nigeria will overcome insecurity and achieve its collective destiny.”
He also addressed controversial international claims of religious intolerance, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to freedom of belief, tolerance, and coexistence.
Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of homegrown, bottom-up solutions in tackling national challenges, including state policing, local government autonomy, and rural development.
He noted that empowering local communities is key to peace, security, and economic growth.
“Our solutions must be uniquely Nigerian,” he said.
“We must adopt local approaches in implementing state policing, strengthening local governance, and opening rural areas for opportunities. This is how Nigeria will overcome insecurity and accelerate development.”
The governor urged current leaders to draw lessons from Nigeria’s founding fathers such as Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, learning from their successes and failures to build a stronger nation.
“Governance is about continuous improvement and reform. It is about planting trees whose shade we may never sit under, and building a nation our children will be proud of,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a visionary roadmap for national transformation, focusing on economic diversification, infrastructure development, human capital, governance reform, and security.
“At the state level, APC governors align with these priorities. In Lagos State, our THEMES+ agenda complements the Renewed Hope Agenda by emphasizing infrastructure, human capital development, security, tourism, and social inclusion.
Unity across government levels is essential for fast-tracking progress,” he added.
The governor praised President Tinubu’s bold reforms, including removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and new tax legislation.
He said, “These actions are a hard reset of the Nigerian economy, moving the nation from inefficiency to productivity. Resources are now available to drive sustainable growth and development.”
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the increase in federal allocations to states and local governments, noting that this ensures more resources reach communities.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of true federalism and local government empowerment. He praised Tinubu for securing a Supreme Court judgment to guarantee financial autonomy for local councils.
He further stressed the administration’s ongoing reform of Nigeria’s security architecture through state policing, calling it a critical step toward allowing states to manage their internal security effectively.
Sanwo-Olu delivered a message of optimism and determination, “We shall defeat poverty, hunger, and insecurity. With unity, the Renewed Hope Agenda, and collective action, Nigeria will overcome insecurity and achieve inclusive, sustainable development for all citizens.”
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