“Nigeria’s Economy Would Have Collapsed Without Tinubu” — Shettima Fires Back at Critics

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, warning that Nigeria could have suffered a far deeper economic crisis without the administration’s intervention, even as he acknowledged that Nigerians have endured difficult times under the reforms.

Shettima made the remarks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during an event tagged “An Evening with Original City Boy,” organised by the City Boy Movement, a group mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In a forceful defence of the President, the Vice-President argued that the economic decisions taken by Tinubu were necessary to reposition the country, insisting that those criticising the administration should consider what might have happened had the government failed to act.

“The President has to be commended, not demonised. Yes, Nigerians have gone through some tough times, but it could have been worse,” Shettima said.

He went further, suggesting that some of the administration’s fiercest critics would have been discussing Nigeria’s economic collapse from abroad if Tinubu had not taken what he described as far-reaching decisions.

“These people, by now, would have been writing epistles on a collapsed economy from the comfort of their homes in Dubai, in New York,” he said.

Beyond defending the reforms, Shettima sought to reassure Nigerians that the government was preparing further measures to address rising food prices. He said Tinubu would unveil responses to the country’s agricultural challenges in the coming weeks, expressing confidence that the cost of food would subsequently decline.

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The promise comes amid continuing concerns over the affordability of essential commodities, with food prices and household expenses remaining major issues for many Nigerians. However, the Vice-President did not provide details of the planned agricultural measures or specify when consumers could begin to see a reduction in prices.

Shettima also pointed to economic indicators in support of his argument, citing growth of 4.43 per cent in the last quarter and foreign reserves hovering around $60 billion. He described these developments as signs that the administration’s policies were beginning to reposition the economy.

“The President had the courage of conviction and the knowledge to take those far-reaching decisions that repositioned the Nigerian economy,” he said.

The Vice-President further highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as part of the administration’s efforts to expand opportunities for young people. He urged youths to communicate the government’s reform message to other Nigerians, calling on them to take the President’s policies to the streets.

Shettima’s remarks placed the economic debate squarely on the question of whether the hardship Nigerians have experienced under the reforms should be weighed against the administration’s argument that more severe consequences were avoided.

While the Vice-President maintained that Tinubu’s interventions prevented a possible collapse, his assurance that food prices would come down in the coming weeks presents another test for the government: translating its economic claims into relief that households can feel in their daily lives.

For Nigerians facing the cost of food, transport and other necessities, the critical measure of the promised agricultural response will be whether it leads to more affordable prices and improved access to essential goods.