To ensure that Nigerians are lifted out of poverty, President Bola Tinubu has pledged to work.

According to a statement released on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, the president's spokesperson, Tinubu remarked while hosting a 62-person delegation from Rivers state at the State House in Abuja.

Leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were included in the group.

The delegation included Siminalayi Fubari, governor of Rivers state, and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The president claimed that neither Rivers nor Nigeria had any business being linked to underdevelopment, insecurity, or poverty.

He promised that the story will be "permanently and positively changed" under his direction.

“We are not meant to be in a position to be poor. We will turn the tide! Somewhere, somehow in this storm, there’s a quiet and peaceful place for us. We will locate it,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.

“We are not lazy people. We are richly endowed. We just need to be our brother’s keeper, and good neighbours to one another.

“I am not a President that will give excuses. I will work hard for our nation with purpose, determination and dedication to create wealth for all Nigerians. We have no reason to be poor! We will not look back, we will run aggressively forward.

“Today, we may be swimming against the tide. But the waves will soon propel us forward from behind. We will achieve the goals and dreams of our forefathers. I am inspired by the nation of people I now lead.”

The president promised to put in a lot of effort for the nation while pleading with the younger people to have greater patience with the political system.

“I am the captain and chief salesman of the country. We have to reverse the trend and achieve possibilities within a short period of time. Our people have high expectations for us,” he said.

Speaking, Fubara informed the president that Rivers voters chose him in the most recent elections because they support equity, justice, and fairness.

“This is the first time that Rivers State is truly feeling the impact of the federal government since the inception of democracy in 1999,” he said.