How Tinubu Set Target On Economy When He Assumed Office — Presidency

The Presidency has said Nigeria is on a “healing journey” and firmly on course to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030, despite the pains associated with recent economic reforms.

Technical adviser to the president on economic and financial inclusion (office of the vice president), Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, stated this at the weekend in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists at a media parley on economic and financial inclusion.

Zauro said President Bola Tinubu set a clear economic target from his first day in office, noting that the administration was focused on deepening Nigeria’s economic and financial sectors to drive long-term growth.

“From day one, Mr President actually set a target,” Zauro said, “He set a target of deepening Nigeria’s economic and financial sector to achieve a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030. In order for us to achieve that, we have to build trust, we have to build infrastructure, we have to ensure inclusion and, of course, bring in policies that promote partnership and collaboration. That is the definition of the borderless economy.”

He acknowledged that the reforms undertaken by the administration have been difficult for citizens but described them as necessary steps to restore the economy to sustainable health.

“I keep saying this: it takes a bold decision for a father who knows his child is sick to take him to the hospital, allow him to go through surgery and come out hale and hearty,” he said.

“Nigeria has passed through a lot of reforms and difficult times. We know economic pressure is a global thing, but at this time, we are on a healing journey.”

Zauro said key economic indicators were beginning to show improvement, with investor confidence gradually returning to the country.

“Nigerian numbers are changing. Things are becoming better; the numbers are turning,” he said. “Investors are coming. In this room, in this office, we have hosted so many people. Nigeria is on its trajectory to success, and I can assure you that the leadership Nigeria has always had in Africa is being reinforced.”

He added that the Tinubu administration is being deliberate about leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to strengthen Nigeria’s leadership role on the continent.

“In terms of leadership to take advantage of AfCFTA, we are really where the numbers are today, and they are out there,” he said. “The most important thing is the intentionality of the administration. Mr President and the Vice President have been all over the world canvassing for support, requesting collaboration and partnership.”

The technical adviser linked the current focus on economic and financial inclusion to a presidential directive, explaining that the administration is implementing the ASO Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion.

“That is even one of the reasons why we are seated in this room,” he said. “We are implementing the ASO Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion. It speaks to commitment, it speaks to recognition of the importance of this sector, as well as partnership and collaboration. That has been the support of Mr President.”

According to him, the Federal Government has also elevated the inclusion agenda to the National Economic Council to ensure buy-in from states and sub-national governments.

“Another key thing is elevating this conversation to the National Economic Council, where all the sub-nationals are,” Zauro said. “It is not enough to do policy at the centre; you must ensure that the policy goes to the sub-nationals so that every Nigerian is part of the policy and its implementation. Our slogan has always been: no one is left behind.”

Zauro maintained that with inclusive policies and strong partnerships, Nigerians are capable of addressing most of the country’s economic challenges.

“If we can face these problems together, like the Presidency is trying to do and everybody joins us to solve them, then we probably don’t need anybody to help us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is set to host a major continental policy and technology engagement in 2026, as organisers of the RegTech Africa Conference and Expo (RACE 2026) unveiled details of the event at the media parley.

The conference, scheduled for May 20 to 22, 2026, will be held under the patronage of the Office of the Vice President with the theme, “Building trust, infrastructure, inclusion and policy for a borderless economy.” It is being organised in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa.

Some of the organisers said multi-stakeholder engagements are critical to resolving persistent challenges faced by citizens and businesses, stressing that open conversations help policymakers better understand real-world problems.

They said the conference is deliberately designed to bring together policymakers, innovators and operators who can directly address sector-wide “pain points” and propose practical solutions.

Linking financial inclusion to productivity, the organisers noted that access to markets and payment systems could significantly boost output in rural and underserved communities.

“If you give me access to market for my goods, even if I am in one small village, and I have exposure to the world and access to collect my money from the sales, I will produce more,” they said.