BY UCHECHI OKPORIE
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to its economic reform agenda, telling a visiting delegation from the World Bank that his government will not reverse course despite early hardships associated with the changes.
Tinubu, speaking at the State House in Abuja during talks with World Bank Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, described the reform process as essential for strengthening Nigeria’s economy and expanding opportunities for its large youth population.
“Since we embarked on this journey of reform, we have our hands on the plough, and we’re never going to look back,” the president said, acknowledging that some measures were difficult at first but necessary for long-term stability.
The president highlighted agriculture as a key priority, urging the World Bank to support mechanisation, improved seedling programmes and access to fertilisers as Nigeria works to modernise farming and link local producers to markets.
He also pointed to bold decisions taken by his administration, such as removing fuel subsidies and unifying the foreign exchange rate, actions aimed at stabilising the economy.
Tinubu called on the Bank to explore innovative financing options to accelerate growth, reduce bureaucratic barriers and expand skills development across the country.
In response, Ms Bjerde praised Nigeria’s steady and disciplined reform leadership over the past two years, saying the country had become a frequent reference point in global discussions on economic transformation.
She underscored the World Bank’s willingness to align its support with Nigeria’s development goals, including infrastructure, job creation and private-sector growth.
