The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu are building a solid foundation for a stronger, more productive and more prosperous Nigeria.
He added that the reforms have been recognised by major international institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Professor Yilwatda spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where the state hosted President Tinubu and his entourage at a rally held at the Senator Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, he said the President’s willingness to confront long-standing structural challenges reflects the courageous leadership needed to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and economic prosperity.
In a statement made available on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman admitted that the reforms have required difficult adjustments.
However, he maintained that abandoning them would mean reversing the country’s progress and returning to the very hardships that made the reforms necessary.
He described President Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy as more than a political aspiration, stressing that it is a strategic national development target supported by deliberate policy choices and ongoing economic restructuring.
According to him, major investments in infrastructure, transportation, education, maritime development and financial inclusion are critical pillars of the administration’s economic transformation agenda.
Professor Yilwatda singled out the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a landmark project that will improve connectivity, stimulate commerce and open up significant economic opportunities for Akwa Ibom and other coastal communities.
He added that the President’s determination to develop the maritime economy will strengthen the competitiveness of coastal states and increase their contribution to national development.
On education and social investment, he commended the student loan initiative for widening access to higher education. He also noted that targeted interventions for women and small businesses are creating opportunities for wider participation in the economy.
He explained that the tax reforms were designed to ease the burden on low-income earners and small businesses, allowing them to keep more of their earnings and operate in a more supportive environment.
The APC chairman also cited improved industrial harmony in educational institutions, along with efforts to settle outstanding obligations to workers, pensioners and retirees of formerly privatised public enterprises, as important milestones.
He urged Nigerians to stay committed to the reform process. “Never again should Nigeria return to Egypt. We cannot afford to abandon the difficult but necessary work of rebuilding our economy and repositioning our country for sustainable growth,” he declared.
Professor Yilwatda maintained that the policies and investments of the Tinubu administration are positioning Nigeria for long-term prosperity, and he called on citizens to support its vision of a stronger and more economically competitive nation.
