As Nigeria ushered in the New Year 2026 on Thursday, governors, political and religious leaders across the country have called on citizens to embrace unity, resilience, and collective responsibility.
The governors also reaffirmed their commitment to development, security, and good governance.
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, in his New Year message, noted that 2025 tested the resilience of the people but also strengthened their collective resolve.
He, therefore, urged unity, hard work, and sustained patriotism as the administration intensified efforts to deliver people-oriented governance.
The governor said that despite challenges, the state recorded modest but significant gains across key sectors, including security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and youth and women empowerment, attributing the progress to discipline, unity of purpose, and the cooperation of citizens.
He promised that security remained a top priority of his government, while assuring residents of collaboration with security agencies and community stakeholders to sustain peace across the state.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, assured that his administration would continue with its critical infrastructure programme across the state in 2026.
In his New Year statewide radio and television broadcast, the governor assured that with the faithful execution of the 2026 budget of “Assured Prosperity 2”, the government would ensure execution of key road projects.
The governor described the projects as vital arteries for connectivity and progress of the state.
He expressed regret that 2025 was not a year he would reflect upon with unbridled joy, adding that the death of the Deputy Governor, Dr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, was devastating.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in his New Year broadcast on Thursday, assured residents and people of the state of a stronger economic future in 2026.
He also assured that the government would start offsetting accumulated gratuity arrears, which dated back to the early 2000s.
“In the New Year, we shall consolidate on the gains of the last 31 months to further expand our system of advantages.
“2026 will also see new levels of commitment to the development of critical transport infrastructure. The New Year holds a lot in store for millions of hardworking men and women, aimed at encouraging investments in productive assets, creating jobs, and increasing our GDP by consistently cutting out the bottlenecks that add to production costs,” he said.
The governor promised N5bn commitment to manpower training and development for civil service workers.
He also promised to expand housing supply for families and businesses in the state, with engagement with the Federal Government institutions and leading private sector players in the real estate sector.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, described the New Year as “a season of renewed hope, fresh beginnings and collective responsibility.”
He urged citizens to draw strength from the lessons of the past and look forward to the future with optimism, courage, and unity of purpose.
The governor acknowledged the sacrifices, resilience, and patience displayed by Deltans, noting that the modest but impactful gains recorded across key sectors of the state were made possible by the people’s enduring spirit, peaceful disposition, and shared commitment to progress.
He assured them that their pains, hopes, and aspirations remained at the heart of his administration’s policies, reaffirming that “in the New Year, the government would deepen its focus on good governance, infrastructural renewal, job creation, youth empowerment, enhanced security, and inclusive economic growth in line with the MORE Agenda.”
Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, ruled out complacency in the running of his administration as he pledged accelerated consolidation of achievements recorded over the past two and a half years.
In his New Year broadcast to the people, Mbah described 2026 as a year of “quantum leap,” stressing that his administration’s optimism was firmly rooted in tangible progress already made across key sectors.
“There will be no room for complacency. Our optimism is not abstract; it is grounded in the concrete work we have done,” the governor said, urging the people of the state to remain united and hopeful in the new year.
Reflecting on his administration’s record, Mbah highlighted the revival of moribund public assets, reforms in the transport and water sectors, improved security architecture, expansion of road and tourism infrastructure, and gains in education and agriculture.
He also cited increased investment inflow and a rise in visitors to the state as evidence of growing confidence in Enugu.
He, however, warned that sustaining progress required even greater commitment in the coming year.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, said on Thursday that the state, under his watch, had made remarkable progress with the completion of key projects and execution of life-changing programmes and policies.
Oyebanji, who promised to sustain the rapid development being witnessed across all sectors of the state economy, declared 2026 a year of unlimited opportunities for the government and people of the state.
In a statewide broadcast to mark the New Year, he assured that his administration would expand on the current achievements and set higher bars in the New Year.
“Let me assure all Ekiti people that your security remains our number one priority.
“I am well aware of your concerns about the security of our state in the light of what is happening in our neighbouring states.
Be assured that we are very deliberate, proactive and strategic in the security of our state. By God’s grace, Ekiti will continue to know peace,” he said.
Oyebanji enjoined all political stakeholders to be civil and maintain peace as the June 20 governorship election approached, promising to ensure a political arena devoid of intimidation and activities that could trigger violence.
He hailed President Tinubu for the Federal Government’s tremendous support for the state.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, assured the people of renewed hope, stronger security, and accelerated development in the New Year.
In his message made available to journalists on Thursday by his media aide, Patrick Ebojele, the governor recalled that upon assumption of office, Edo faced serious challenges, including insecurity, deplorable roads, poor infrastructure, weak institutions, and low public trust.
He, however, said with the support of the Edo people, the story was changing for the better.
He said his administration, under the SHINE Agenda, had made measurable progress in security, infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, economic development, and job creation, stressing that governance under his watch was being driven by practical action, not promises.
While acknowledging that challenges still remained, the governor assured residents that his government was tackling them head-on.
The Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, also called on the people of Edo State and Nigeria in general to embrace unity, hope, and collective responsibility.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a New Year message to residents, assured that Abuja would remain peaceful and well-organised as preparations began toward the 2027 general elections.
Wike said the FCT Administration was ready to manage the political activities that typically preceded national elections in the country’s capital.
He said Abuja’s status as the seat of government would naturally attract intense political engagement, adding that the administration would ensure that campaigns and related events were held without disruption.
“Be assured that the FCT Administration will continue to provide an environment conducive to the orderly hosting of all political events preceding and relating to the general elections,” he said.
Wike noted that the administration’s commitment was to guarantee a free, fair, and secure political atmosphere for all parties and actors as the election season approached.
Reflecting on the past year, Wike expressed gratitude to residents and visitors for their support, crediting their cooperation for the progress recorded across the territory.
The minister also linked recent developments in the territory to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said had driven growth across both central Abuja and satellite communities.
The All Progressives Congress, in a New Year message issued on Thursday through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, commended Nigerians for their resilience, patriotism, and steadfast support for the party and the Tinubu-led administration.
It said the administration’s deep and targeted reforms were producing clear and measurable outcomes.
The party urged Nigerians to take pride in the nation’s collective progress toward shared prosperity.
It promised to remain focused and work even harder to continue to justify the confidence that Nigerians reposed in it as the pan-Nigeria progressive party of choice.
The Christian Association of Nigeria has, therefore, called for national renewal, responsible leadership, and people-centred governance in the New Year.
In a message signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN acknowledged God’s mercy in preserving the nation through what it described as a year marked by severe trials, including economic hardship, insecurity, and widespread uncertainty.
The association said the past year had placed enormous strain on families and communities, stressing that the resilience shown by Nigerians should not be mistaken for national well-being.
