Lagos, December 7, 2025 – Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has defended President Bola Tinubu's sweeping economic reforms, likening their impact to "fertility drugs" that are finally yielding results for a nation he described as a "barren woman" before Tinubu's 2023 inauguration. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-West stakeholders' meeting in Lagos on Saturday, Uzodinma, chairman of the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF), conveyed the collective stance of APC governors, praising Nigerians' resilience while vowing to defeat surging insecurity through unity and political will. The remarks, delivered amid a two-day PGF strategy session hosted by Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, underscore the ruling party's efforts to rally support for Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda" as public discontent over inflation and joblessness intensifies.
Uzodinma's vivid metaphor captured the forum's optimistic tone, painting a picture of economic rebirth after years of stagnation under the previous Muhammadu Buhari administration. "Nigeria was like a barren woman looking for a child before President Bola Tinubu came," he declared. "He introduced the fertility drugs needed. Yes, they came with pains, but we are seeing results. We are not after excuses. We are interested in results." The governor, who also serves as national coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, thanked citizens for enduring the "difficulties from the reforms," adding, "We thank you for your resilience in admitting the difficulties from the reforms. A more united and prosperous Nigeria is what we need."
The meeting concluded the PGF's two-day retreat, where 20 APC governors, now a majority in 21 of Nigeria's 36 states, reviewed national challenges, including economic stabilization, security coordination, and grassroots governance. In a communique read by Uzodinma, the forum passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu, reaffirming support for his re-election in 2027 and committing to complementary state-level initiatives. Sanwo-Olu, the host, hailed the gathering as a testament to party unity, joking about the governors' vibrant attire resembling "masquerade regalia" while inviting them to Lagos' upcoming Antimorosia Festival.
At the core of Uzodinma's address were Tinubu's flagship reforms, launched shortly after his May 29, 2023, inauguration. The removal of costly fuel subsidies in June 2023 tripled petrol prices from NGN 185 to over NGN 600 per liter, while naira unification and foreign exchange liberalization devalued the currency by more than 70% against the dollar. These measures, aimed at curbing fiscal deficits and attracting foreign investment, have slashed monthly subsidy spending from NGN 400 billion to near zero but triggered a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation hit 34.2% in November 2025, the highest in 28 years, with food prices surging 40.5%, exacerbating poverty for 87 million Nigerians, over 40% of the population, according to World Bank estimates.
Yet Uzodinma insisted the "pains" are transitional, citing early wins: GDP growth rebounded to 3.46% in Q3 2025 from 2.98% the prior year, driven by non-oil sectors like services and agriculture. Foreign reserves climbed to $42 billion by December, enabling smoother imports, while oil production stabilized at 1.4 million barrels per day after hitting lows of 1 million amid theft and vandalism. The PGF communique highlighted state interventions, such as scaling up food palliatives, SME grants, and youth jobs, to cushion impacts; Lagos alone distributed 1.2 million food packs in 2025. Uzodinma, appointed Renewed Hope Ambassador in November 2025, was tasked by Tinubu to "evangelize" these gains nationwide, aligning with the Ward Development Programme targeting 1,000 businesses per ward.
The forum also tackled insecurity, a persistent thorn amid economic woes. Uzodinma decried a "recent surge in kidnappings and terrorist attacks," questioning, "Who are the people funding these criminalities?" He affirmed, "God made Tinubu possible... Progressive governors are united. Nigeria must win." Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded over 1,200 violent incidents in Q4 2025 alone, including Boko Haram raids in Borno and bandit abductions in Zamfara, displacing 3.5 million. The PGF praised Tinubu's October 2025 reshuffle of service chiefs and pledged to bolster community policing, with states like Imo investing NGN 2 billion in vigilante tech.
Uzodinma, a senator-turned-governor re-elected in November 2023 amid controversy over vote tallies, has been a staunch Tinubu ally. His Imo administration mirrors federal priorities: tax reforms boosted IGR by 45% to NGN 45 billion in 2025, funding roads and health hubs. The Lagos event, attended by figures like Senate President Godswill Akpabio, emphasized infrastructure peer-learning; Lagos' Bus Rapid Transit expansion inspiring similar projects in Ogun and Oyo.
Critics, including opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, dismissed Uzodinma's rhetoric as tone-deaf, pointing to youth protests in Abuja over subsidy pains. Labour unions have threatened strikes unless wages rise 300%. Yet the PGF's resolutions signal defiance: deeper local reforms for transparency, climate-resilient projects, and SME protections to ensure "no one is left behind."
As Nigeria navigates this crossroads, balancing reform dividends against daily struggles, Uzodinma's words encapsulate the APC's gamble: short-term agony for long-term fertility. With 2027 elections looming, the forum's unity aims to fortify Tinubu's base, but sustaining public faith will demand more than metaphors. For now, the governors' chorus of "Nigeria must win" echoes from Lagos, a rallying cry amid the nation's labor pains.
