Economic Reforms to Bear Fruit Soon, Says Tinubu at National Management Conference

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the dividends of his regime’s economic reforms would be felt by the citizens soon. In his remarks at the 2024 Annual National Management Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, September 24, President Tinubu promised that the long-term dividend of such reforms would greatly uplift the nation’s economy.

Represented by the Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Tinubu, while addressing the audience as the Special Guest of Honour, cited tough but necessary decisions his government has made to keep the weak economy he inherited on stable grounds. Chief among the reforms were the floating of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidies, both of which have brought on instant challenges for the people. But he expressed optimism that such pains will be temporal and Nigerians will in due course start enjoying the dividends.

“In the bid to kick-start and stabilize the weak economy which we inherited quickly, we have taken some hard decisions through the economic reforms introduced so far, such as floating of the naira and removal of the fuel subsidy,” said Tinubu. He said there he realizes these reforms have caused a lot of difficulties but expressed his optimism that the nation’s economy and its citizens will begin to feel the positive impact of such policies soon. “We realize that the pains occasioned by these reformative economic policies have been biting the citizenry hard, but we are convinced that the nation’s economy and Nigerians will start reaping the benefits of all the sacrifices in no distant time.

He equally boasted of the huge strides taken in economic diversification, stating that core investments had been made in agriculture, technology, and renewable energy. This, according to him, is the kind of investment that is always fundamental to bringing about long-term stability and economic development.

It was a conference that attracted a galaxy of professional managers and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors into one conference, themed “Economic Stability and National Security: the Contending Issues and the Way Forward.” He congratulated the Institute for its role in advancing good management practices in adding weight to the effort of the Federal Government at repositioning the economy.

On national security, Tinubu said there would be an all-encompassing approach towards the economic and security challenges. He urged the building up of intelligence apparatus, strengthening of community policing, and ensuring security forces are properly equipped. Beyond that, Tinubu emphasized that poverty, unemployment, and lack of education are the very causes of insecurity, and he would make sure those are taken care of in order for peace to be achieved.

He said these reforms and strategic actions will demonstrate that Nigeria is indeed on the path to actual development and progress.