By William Emmanuel Ukpoju
President Bola Tinubu has assured citizens that Nigeria’s economy is on a gradual but steady path of recovery. He made this statement during a meeting with traditional rulers at the State House on Thursday.
“Yes, it is true that I asked for this job, and I approached some of you to support me. So, I have no excuse not to do the job with sincerity of purpose and honesty,” President Tinubu said. “I have committed myself to it diligently, and I will never look backwards.”
The President acknowledged the plight of citizens and promised to do more to meet their needs. “Nigeria is hilly, and it is the largest democracy in Africa. No other democracy comes close to us in terms of population on the continent. We cannot blame God for giving us these children, and we have to seek peace and better livelihoods,” he added.
President Tinubu highlighted various interventions, including the activation of the student loan program, consumer credit scheme, and fiscal autonomy for local government councils, aimed at bringing the government closer to the people. “Today, the Bank of Agriculture is empty. We have to reactivate it. If they are not talking about flooding, they are talking of banditry. We have to start all over again,” he said.
The President emphasized the importance of economic viability in infrastructure development, citing the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project as an example. “The economic viability of infrastructure has to be studied before we embark on projects. How many dams are there on the corridors of Sokoto-Badagry? From there, we can energize electricity. We can do irrigation and additional farms,” he explained.
President Tinubu urged traditional rulers to communicate the government’s genuine intentions to citizens, assuring that the economy will be revived, survive, and prosper. “Now, we are sending money to the local governments. I addressed the governors today on that issue. I have been distributing fertilizer, rice, and other items to support the recovery of citizens. I assure you, Nigerians, we are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. I can assure you, this economy will be revived, will survive, and prosper,” he emphasized.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed appreciation for the meeting, saying, “I believe that this brief meeting will clear some issues that many people have in their minds.”
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also thanked the President for inviting relevant officials to brief the traditional rulers on the state of the economy.