The Presidency defended President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms on Thursday, insisting that Nigerians must accept short-term hardship to prevent a deeper financial crisis. Leadership demands tough choices over popularity, the government argued at a book presentation in Abuja.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Special Adviser Dr Aliyu Modibbo, framed the reforms as necessary medicine. "Leadership, at its most serious level, is the courage to choose repair over applause, and to do today what prevents a deeper crisis tomorrow," Shettima said.
The Vice President acknowledged the pain caused by removing petrol subsidies and unifying the foreign exchange market. But he said the reforms were already yielding results.
Shettima pointed to economic data showing Nigeria's GDP grew by 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 3.4 per cent in 2024. Oil production had rebounded to about 1.5 million barrels per day, he noted.
Debt servicing improved significantly, falling from 96 per cent of revenue to below 65 per cent. The administration had also rolled out social safety nets to cushion the impact on ordinary Nigerians.
Over 100,000 Nigerians have accessed the national consumer credit scheme, Shettima said. The student loan programme continues expanding to support education.
The 2026 budget allocated N26.08 trillion for capital expenditure to fund major infrastructure projects. These include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
On democracy, Shettima said Tinubu remained committed to protecting civic freedoms and tolerating dissent. Governments that stop listening to citizens risk losing public trust, he warned.
"His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has remained firm in his belief that democracy must accommodate disagreement… A government that cannot listen will eventually lose the confidence of the people," Shettima added.
The remarks came during the public unveiling of "Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa's Most Consequential Country (1999–2023)," authored by THISDAY Managing Director Eniola Bello. The event at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre drew senior officials, electoral stakeholders, media executives and public intellectuals.
The gathering soon broadened into wider discussions on Nigeria's economy, democracy and institutional strength. Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Prof.
Joash Amupitan raised concerns about the commission's financial dependence.
Constitutional guarantees alone cannot ensure INEC's independence if the commission relies on normal budgetary approval processes, Amupitan argued. He said the commission's credibility hinges on genuine financial autonomy alongside legal protections.
"Experience has shown that as long as INEC remains subject to the normal appropriation process," budgetary controls could undermine the institution's ability to function independently, he explained.
