The Presidency has defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the policies were necessary to prevent Nigeria from falling into a deeper economic crisis.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the administration took difficult but strategic decisions, including the removal of petrol subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market, to restore fiscal stability and reposition the country for long-term economic growth.
Speaking on Saturday during a Northern Stakeholders Town Hall meeting in Kaduna State, Dare stated that the reforms were aimed at rebuilding investor confidence and addressing structural weaknesses in the economy.
The event, organised by supporters of President Tinubu under the Tinubu Door-to-Door Movement, also featured calls for the President’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Dare, although many Nigerians have experienced hardship since the implementation of the policies, the government had no choice but to discontinue programmes that placed enormous pressure on public finances without delivering sustainable benefits.
He described the reforms as “difficult but necessary,” stressing that the policies were already yielding positive results in critical sectors of the economy.
Dare added that the removal of fuel subsidy and the foreign exchange reforms formed part of a broader strategy to place Nigeria on a stronger economic foundation.
He assured that the Tinubu administration would continue implementing policies designed to improve the country’s fiscal position and create opportunities for long-term national development.
Organisers of the town hall meeting said the engagement was intended to help citizens better understand government policies while also providing grassroots stakeholders an avenue to share feedback on governance and policy implementation.
National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Adekanbi, said the forum was created to strengthen communication between the government and the people.
Adekanbi noted that direct engagement with citizens remained important, especially during a period of major economic and governance reforms.
He added that the movement would continue to organise platforms where Nigerians could ask questions, make observations and contribute to conversations on national development.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Solomon Gushibet, Head of the Centre for Financial Economics at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, reviewed the economic impact of the Federal Government’s reforms.
Gushibet said the long-term success of the policies would depend on consistent implementation, effective communication and the government’s willingness to respond to citizens’ concerns.
The discussions also focused on infrastructure projects and social investment programmes introduced by the Tinubu administration.
Representing Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, said the removal of petrol subsidy had improved the financial capacity of states to execute development projects and governance programmes.
Maiyaki also linked the gradual restoration of peace in previously troubled communities in Kaduna State to targeted governance and security measures introduced by the state government.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting policies that promote security, economic stability and development.
Participants at the town hall called for continuity in government policies, arguing that sustained implementation of reforms was necessary to achieve long-term economic stability.
Several stakeholders at the meeting also endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying policy consistency would enable the administration to consolidate its ongoing programmes.
The organisers revealed that similar town hall engagements would be held across other parts of the country ahead of the 2027 general elections to sustain dialogue between the government and citizens.
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