Shettima Meets Nigerians in New York, Seeks Diaspora Support for Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

By Nafiu Muhammad Lema

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians living abroad, particularly those in the United States, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in its efforts to transform Nigeria’s economy and accelerate national development.

Shettima made the appeal on Wednesday during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian diaspora community at Nigeria House in New York, where he outlined the administration’s economic reforms and investment opportunities.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said the Federal Government was prioritising education, healthcare, science and technology, and agriculture while seeking to harness the expertise of Nigerians abroad.

“Citizens of our country have the capacity and intellect to harness our nation’s potentials and take it to greater heights,” Shettima said, describing the diaspora community’s intellectual capacity as a major resource for Nigeria’s future.

The Vice President defended the economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu, saying the administration had taken difficult decisions aimed at repositioning the country’s economy.

“When President Tinubu assumed office, he did not resort to trading blames and accusing his predecessor for the state of affairs of our nation. Rather, he took decisions that only a leader of courage and conviction would take,” he stated.

Shettima claimed that the reforms were already producing tangible results, citing an increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves from $3.9 billion to over $55 billion and economic growth of 4.45 per cent in the last quarter

He maintained that improvements in the exchange rate and foreign reserves would strengthen investor confidence, protect diaspora remittances and encourage Nigerians abroad to invest in the country.

“We are working day and night to reposition the Nigerian nation as investment confidence is returning to Nigeria, and the Dangote Refinery success story is a true manifestation in recent times,” he said.

“Be rest assured that beyond the negative stories that you hear and see in the social media, Nigeria is open for business. We have crossed the rubicon, and we are on the path of sustained growth.”

On education, Shettima disclosed that more than 1.29 million students in tertiary institutions had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with N125 billion disbursed since the programme began.

Addressing the country’s security challenges, the Vice President acknowledged the difficulties facing Nigeria but assured the diaspora community that the administration was deploying available resources to tackle emerging threats.

He also urged Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political differences, to work collectively towards building a peaceful and prosperous nation.

“Whatever binds us together supersedes whatever divides us as a people,” he declared.

The meeting was attended by Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, alongside Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

Also present were several federal ministers, including Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Tunji Alausa, Dele Alake and Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, as well as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.