Shettima: Tinubu Saved Nigeria’s Economy From Collapse

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Tinubu saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse by taking difficult but necessary decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates.

Shettima made the remarks on Saturday in Lagos after meeting with President Tinubu, who recently returned to Nigeria from his annual vacation.

The Vice-President urged Nigerians to appreciate the administration’s efforts, despite the economic hardship currently being experienced across the country.

According to him, the country’s foreign reserves stood at only $3.9 billion when the Tinubu administration assumed office, which he said was insufficient to finance fuel imports for one month.

“He had the courage and the conviction to take power-reaching decisions,” Shettima said.

He added: “He saved the economy. I want Nigerians to understand this fundamental truism. We were on the road to Caracas; he saved our economy; he saved the nation from falling into pieces.”

Shettima acknowledged the hardship caused by the economic reforms but appealed to Nigerians to remain patient, saying the difficult period would not last forever.

“We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever; tough people do,” he said.

FG Plans More Relief Measures

The Vice-President also disclosed that the Federal Government was preparing additional programmes aimed at reducing the impact of the economic crisis on citizens.

He said the government would, within the next few weeks, launch an e-logistics initiative in the North-West, while 10,600 electric tricycles would be deployed in the North-East to ease transportation difficulties.

Shettima also announced plans to deploy 300 buses and e-taxis as part of efforts to “ameliorate the sufferings” of Nigerians.

He said President Tinubu remained concerned about the plight of ordinary Nigerians and had “a lot of empathy for the common man.”

The Vice-President further described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as a major intervention designed to enable students from low-income families access higher education.

On the 2027 elections, Shettima acknowledged the increasing political activities across the country but said the administration would continue to combine governance with political engagement.

“Politics is in the air, but we’ll combine politics and governance,” he added.