President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to re-elect him for a second term, promising to consolidate ongoing economic reforms and deliver more results if given another mandate.
Tinubu made the appeal during an interview session at the just concluded Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The President said his administration would dedicate the first two years of a second term to intensified governance and reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s economy for sustainable growth.
“Do more work. More challenges are there. The world won’t wait for anybody. You have to continue to reset and rethink, challenge the intellectual curiosity of you as a government,” Tinubu said when asked about his focus if re-elected.
He added, “The philosophy I came with in governance, believing that the hallmark of a transformative leader is the ability to take decisions, do what you’ll do, at the time it has to be done, on behalf of the people.”
Tinubu defended key policies of his administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, describing them as painful but necessary steps to prevent economic collapse.
“It is a fake life to think you can, in a global economy, continue the subsidy that is wasteful. It’s an encouragement to falsification of papers, smuggling, and that is a very critical situation for the country,” he said.
According to him, maintaining the previous subsidy regime would have meant sacrificing the future of coming generations.
The President recalled that prior to the reforms, many states struggled to meet basic obligations.
“Of the 36 states, 27 of them were unable to pay the salaries of the workers. Where is the money? You are oil producing, you are earning, you are given fuel, you have no refinery that is functional. It is not possible to continue that trend,” Tinubu stated.
He likened the hardship associated with reforms to childbirth, noting that temporary pain would eventually produce long-term benefits.
“It is difficult, it is painful, but it is just like the human reproduction process. A woman carries a pregnancy, enjoys the pain of labour, and has a very big smile when she sees a live child,” he said.
Tinubu also defended taxation, stressing that development cannot be achieved without citizens contributing through taxes.
“Nobody wants to pay taxes ordinarily. Taxation is not friendly to the wealthy, to the middle class, and to the poor. Every human being expects development, but the question they don’t answer is, how do you pay for it?” he asked.
“You want a very good highway, but you don’t want it to go through your land. You want a good hospital and don’t want to pay taxes. How do you care for the vulnerable? How do you protect the future of the children?” he queried.
He added that paying taxes remains a fundamental civic responsibility, declaring that “a citizen that pays taxes is a citizen, whether corporate or individual.”
Highlighting early outcomes of the reforms, Tinubu said Nigeria’s economy had become more stable and predictable, enabling better planning for businesses and households.
“Today there is a very bright light at the end of the corner; the economy is stable, the Naira is stable, predictable, planners can do a reasonable budget, they can plan their lives well,” he said.
The President disclosed that his administration was implementing direct cash transfers to vulnerable households and providing grants and allowances to indigent students to keep them in school.
“For those students ordinarily who would stay out of school because their parents cannot afford school fees, they are now in school. I’m even giving them allowances and upkeeps for their school,” he said.
On industrial policy, Tinubu said government support was being extended to local businesses capable of creating jobs and boosting domestic production, citing the Dangote Refinery and BUA Group as examples.
“What should my government do? Support him, encourage him,” he said in reference to the refinery project, adding that crude oil sales in Naira were approved to ease foreign exchange pressure.
“You don’t have to go through letter of credit and bureaucracy and make foreign exchange difficult for him. Give it to him in Naira,” he added.
Tinubu also defended the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a national integration initiative expected to unlock tourism and investment opportunities along Nigeria’s coastline.
“My philosophy is Nigeria first,” the President said, noting that locally produced cement and steel were prioritised to stimulate domestic industries.
Speaking on national unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace diversity as a strength rather than a source of division.
“All of us together as Nigerians must be patriotic to understand that you have no control where you are born. Your parents could be Igbo, my parents could be Yoruba, you have no control of that. Where you find yourself is your home. This country is ours. We must build it together,” he said.
On regional security and diplomacy, the President stressed the importance of collaboration with neighbouring countries and global partners.
“Security challenges will always be there. Those are things you cannot do alone. You can’t operate the world in isolation,” he said.
Tinubu maintained that Nigeria remained influential within the Economic Community of West African States and across Africa.
“In ECOWAS, Nigeria is a big brother; in Africa, we are the fat lady. We must sing the tune, we must sing the right tune for others to pay attention to,” he said.
He dismissed claims that Nigeria had lost diplomatic relevance, insisting the country continued to play a central role in regional peace and stability.
“Nigeria is still there. Collaboration with trainings and support. Yes, challenges will always be there; there are troublemakers all over,” Tinubu said.
“But you have to just be focused and be alert. Nigeria is ready,” he added.
