20th February 2025
The 36 state governors, under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have called for deeper cooperation with the United States in economic development, governance, and healthcare.
In a communique issued after their meeting in Abuja, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, reaffirmed their commitment to working with state legislatures to promote governance reforms and improve policy implementation.
The governors met with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, who emphasized a shift from a donor-recipient relationship to a collaborative partnership. He outlined four key priorities for U.S. engagement in Nigeria:
- Boosting trade and improving the business environment to attract investment.
- Enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
- Supporting subnational governments to drive state-level development.
- Establishing sustainable, Nigeria-led health programs for long-term impact.
The governors welcomed this renewed approach and stressed the importance of state-level involvement in driving economic and social progress.
Additionally, the NGF urged the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Ibrahim, to expand the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP), which focuses on economic empowerment through Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and livelihood grants.
The forum also engaged with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (COSLON) to strengthen collaboration, ensure states’ perspectives in the constitutional review process, and support efforts to digitize State Houses of Assembly for better efficiency and transparency.
Governors reaffirmed their commitment to working with state legislatures to implement reforms and drive development at the subnational level.
