President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday defended his administration’s economic reforms as necessary steps towards building a $1tn economy by 2030, as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenged the policies, asking why Nigerians had to endure years of hardship before the government began promising relief.
Tinubu, represented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, at the second edition of the Asiwaju Scorecard Series and Policy Roundtable in Abuja, said the reforms had strengthened the foundation for economic stability and growth, citing improved foreign reserves, revenue mobilisation, trade and gross domestic product.
Atiku, however, said the administration’s recent promises of cheaper transportation, increased food production and relief for vulnerable Nigerians amounted to a belated response to a cost-of-living crisis it had allowed to persist for more than three years.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has continued to oppose the policies of the Tinubu administration as the 2027 general elections draw nearer, particularly its economic reforms and their impact on the cost of living.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu, represented by Yilwatda, said the economic reforms introduced by his administration had placed Nigeria on the path to achieving a $1tn economy by 2030.
