Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president, has refuted the popular belief that the country’s economy is in danger.
At the 16th annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards 2023 in Abuja, which had as its topic “An Economy in Distress: Which Way Forward?” on Tuesday, he made this statement.
In addition to being scheduled as the event’s special guest of honor, President Tinubu received the LEADERSHIP Person of the Year award for overcoming overwhelming odds to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket and winning the hotly contested 2023 presidential election.
President Tinubu’s remarks followed widespread demonstrations by Nigerians against the country’s economic hardships and crisis, which culminated in a statewide demonstration on Tuesday, February 27, coordinated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Lagos, Oyo, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Osun, Kogi, and Benue states, among other states, also staged isolated protests as a result of the ensuing consequences. A portion of these protests resulted in looting of public and private warehouses as well as food trucks transporting goods to different locations.
The president, however, promised a more secure and prosperous future for the country and encouraged Nigerians to exercise patience as his administration’s economic reforms started to take effect.
He said that despite the difficulties along the way to a stronger and more stable economy, Nigeria is on track to see long-term economic success as a result of the government’s reforms.
“I shall start by respectfully challenging the notion that Nigeria’s economy is indeed facing challenges, distress, suggesting helplessness. Being at the mercy of the people, we are at the mercy of something we have no control over.
“But that is not the case here. We have challenging times, no doubt, but these times have also been marked by unprecedented opportunities to research the cause and build a sustainable economy away from the rent-seeking and waste that was once the order of the day,” Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, said.