President Bola Tinubu says the good life that Nigerians thought they were living prior to his administration was fake and capable of collapsing the country.
Speaking during the 34th and 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Ondo state, Tinubu said the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of exchange rates were necessary to save Nigeria from the brink of collapse.
Tinubu announced the end of petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also announced the unification of all segments of foreign exchange markets.
The president, represented at the event by Wahab Egbewole, vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said his administration took decisive action to avert economic disaster and secure the future of Nigerians.
“As you are all aware, we took the baton of authority at a time when our economy was nose-diving as a result of heavy debts from fuel and dollar subsidies,” Tinubu said.
“The subsidies were meant to support the poor and make life better for all Nigerians. We are all aware of the fact that the poor and average Nigerians were the sufferers of what was supposed to give them succour and improved standard of living.
“Unfortunately, the good life we thought we were living was a fake one that was capable of leading the country to a total collapse unless drastic efforts were urgently taken.
“The need to salvage the future of our children, and bring the country back from the brink of collapse necessitated the strategic decisions to remove the fuel subsidy and also unify the exchange rates. I am not unaware of the consequences of the tough decisions on our people. I sincerely wish there could be softer options.”
The president expressed optimism that the policies are already yielding positive outcomes.
He noted that the country’s macro-economic indicators are improving daily, while the micro-economy, which directly affects citizens, is gradually taking shape.
Tinubu added that Nigeria is transitioning from a consumption-driven economy to one focused on production across all aspects of human endeavours.
Tinubu called on the graduands to join hands together with his administration “to recover our lost glory and virtues.”
The president also condemned the widespread migration of youths in search of “greener pastures”, stressing that the trend has resulted into a significant brain drain in all sectors of the nation’s economy.
“Many of our youths have chosen the supposed easy option of emigrating to the proverbial greener pastures where their citizens had rolled up their sleeves to bring their nations back from the brinks in their times of trouble,” Tinubu said.
“Such inclination has led to the brain drain syndrome that we now experience in all areas of our endeavours as a nation.
“Our intellectuals and experts on whom the nation has massively invested huge resources to train in the interest of our country are migrating overseas in large numbers at a time their services are most required at home.
“It is heart-rending and the syndrome is not the solution to our problems. We are not Nigerians by accident, and I believe that the Almighty God who made us Nigerians has given us the required wisdom to turn things around for our betterment.
“The present challenges call for a high degree of patriotism and I can assure all Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After rain comes sunshine. The brighter days are almost here.”
Tinubu said the renewed hope agenda is on track, assuring Nigerians that his administration will remain steadfast in its pursuit of a better and greater nation.
