President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will take urgent measures to ease economic hardship linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis, acknowledging rising pressure on households across the country.
Speaking on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during a civic reception held after commissioning state projects, the President said the federal government was fully aware of the economic ripple effects of global conflict, particularly on fuel prices and living conditions.
Tinubu said his administration would work closely with key economic ministries to assess the situation and implement steps to reduce hardship.
“We will continue to find ways to ameliorate the suffering of the vulnerable.
”This is a government that cares. We will look at the numbers with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning. And we will see what we can do to ease the burden, ” he said.
He added that Nigerians were already feeling the impact of global instability but insisted his government would remain focused despite the challenges.
“These are the challenges of the war we didn’t call for. But the effects of an interrelated world that we share. Both the joy and the pain of it is universal,” he said.
The President acknowledged widespread concerns over rising fuel costs, noting that citizens were experiencing economic strain.
He however, urged Nigerians to maintain perspective, suggesting that conditions remained comparatively better than in some other African countries.
“Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel prices are biting hard.
“But look around. Let’s just thank God together that we are better off listening to what is happening in Kenya and other African countries. What they are going through, ” he said.
During the visit, Tinubu also inaugurated several infrastructure projects, including a 60-megawatt gas-fired Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area.
The facility, developed under Governor Douye Diri’s administration, is intended to improve electricity supply and boost economic activity in Bayelsa State.
The power plant is expected to provide more stable electricity to Yenagoa and surrounding communities, reducing reliance on generators and strengthening energy security in the region.
Tinubu described the project as a major step toward addressing long-standing power challenges in the Niger Delta, adding that reliable electricity is essential for development, job creation, and improved living standards.
He personally inspected parts of the facility, including turbines and distribution systems.
The President praised Governor Diri for infrastructure development across the state, including road and bridge projects, describing them as evidence of purposeful leadership and collaboration between federal and state governments.
He stressed that governance must translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
“Development advances further, faster when the federal government and the state government work in partnership and towards a shared purpose,” he said.
Tinubu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to national security, particularly in response to recent attacks on military personnel.
He pledged continued investment in the armed forces to combat terrorism and banditry.
“We will work hard, we will continue to equip and train our men and women of the armed forces, we will defeat terrorism and banditry, regardless of their shenanigans,” he said.
Responding to Governor Diri’s request for federal refunds on road projects, Tinubu said he would consider the matter, while joking about jurisdictional responsibility over federal roads.
“The independent power plant is a blessing and good thinking. There can be no industrialisation and skill development without power.
He added that infrastructure development remained central to national progress.
Governor Diri, in his remarks, appealed for reimbursement of funds spent on federal roads and highlighted ongoing state development projects under his “Assured Prosperity” agenda, including major road networks, a new civil service secretariat, and a proposed international stadium.
One of the key projects inaugurated, the Yenagoa–Oporoma–Ukubie road, was described by the governor as a long-awaited link that has improved access for communities in Southern Ijaw, previously reachable only by waterways.
The visit ended with renewed calls for cooperation between federal and state governments to sustain development momentum and improve living standards across the Niger Delta.
