As the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu-led administration is gradually gaining traction, the Federal Government has ruled out any immediate recourse to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for bailout.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, made this position clear while addressing African Finance Ministers on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Meetings in Washington.
Edun, in a statement on Friday by the
Head Information and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie,
stated that Nigeria’s reform programme which has been sustained over the past two years has begun to yield tangible results, restoring credibility to economic management and strengthening the country’s ability to withstand mounting global headwinds.
He further underscored the government’s deliberate shift towards market-led policies, stressing that Nigeria has resisted the temptation of administrative controls, particularly in the areas of management of foreign exchange and petroleum pricing.
“The direction is clear,” the Minister indicated, “Nigeria is staying the course with internally driven reforms rather than turning to multilateral financing.”
He however cautioned that despite Nigeria’s improving outlook, that the broader African landscape remains fragile.
He therefore called for accelerated and better-coordinated international financial support for vulnerable economies, as discussions intensify around a proposed $50 billion global assistance package.
While reforms have enabled Nigeria to build critical buffers, the Minister noted that many African countries remain highly exposed to external shocks and urgently require support to stabilise their economies.
Edun concluded that Nigeria’s reliance on market mechanisms has helped soften the impact of necessary adjustments, reducing dislocations and keeping the economy on a steady macroeconomic trajectory even as global uncertainties persist.
