Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms saved Nigeria from a looming economic collapse, urging Nigerians to remain patient as the Federal Government continues to roll out measures to ease the hardship faced by citizens.
Shettima stated this after meeting with President Tinubu at the President’s Lagos residence, where he expressed delight over the President’s return and resumption of his official engagements.
The Vice President said he had remained in regular contact with Tinubu throughout his period abroad, noting that advances in science and technology had made it possible for the President to remain actively involved in governance.
“We have been in regular contact. We speak almost every other day, and we are updating him on developments in the nation, and we are happy he’s back on the beat,” Shettima said.
He urged Nigerians to appreciate the difficult decisions taken by the Tinubu administration, recalling that the country’s foreign reserves stood at about $3.9 billion when the administration assumed office, a situation he said was insufficient to cover even one month of oil imports.
According to him, Tinubu demonstrated the courage and conviction to implement far-reaching reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the multiple exchange-rate windows.
“He literally, the economy was actually teetering on the verge of collapse; he saved the economy,” the Vice President said.
Shettima further said Nigeria was at risk of heading towards a severe economic crisis before the reforms were introduced.
“We are on the road to Caracas. He saved our economy. He saved the nation from falling to pieces,” he said.
While acknowledging the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, the Vice President appealed for patience, assuring citizens that the current hardship would not last forever.
“We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever. Tough people do,” Shettima said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was preparing to launch additional programmes aimed at reducing the burden on citizens, particularly in the Northeast.
According to him, the government will, in the coming weeks, launch an e-logistics initiative in the region, including the deployment of 10,600 electric tricycles, as well as 300 electric buses and taxis.
Shettima said the initiatives were designed to ease transportation challenges and ameliorate the economic difficulties being experienced by Nigerians.
He also highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the programme as a major intervention aimed at helping students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds gain access to higher education.
“The NELFUND is a masterstroke aimed at assisting students of limited means to have access to drink from the Western Spring,” he said.
The Vice President assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration would continue to introduce programmes and projects targeted at improving the welfare of citizens.
He also acknowledged the increasing political activities in the country, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections, but maintained that governance would remain a priority for the administration.
“Politics is in the air, but we will combine politics and governance,” Shettima said.