Okonjo-Iweala’s Praise For Tinubu Leaves Opposition Stranded – APC Group

Leading support group of the ruling party, the APC Grassroots Governance Group, APC G3 on Friday said the credit given to the present administration by the Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has left the opposition and naysayers confused and stranded.

Recall that during a Thursday visit to the Presidential Villa, the WTO Chief lauded President Bola Tinubu and his team for stabilising Nigeria’s economy.

She said, “We think that President Bola Tinubu and his team have worked hard to stabilise Nigeria’s economy, and you cannot really improve an economy unless it is stable.”

“So, President Tinubu has to be given the credit for the stability of the economy. The reforms have been in the right direction. What is needed next is growth.

“Nigeria now needs to grow the economy and we need to build social safety nets, so that people who are feeling the pinch of the reforms can also have some support to be able to weather the hardship.”

APC G3 national coordinator Amechi Chuks Oyema, in a press release on Friday, said the group and well-meaning Nigerians supporting President Tinubu’s policies have been proved right.

He said, “What the opposition and naysayers wanted to hear is that the country is going down the slope. They are confused and stranded as the Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave us a true state of our economy.

“We should note that President Tinubu inherited $4 billion in forex reserves, $7 billion in unmet obligations, ₦30 trillion Ways and Means debt, a debt servicing burden consuming 96% of government revenue

“Since assumption of office forex reserves have climbed toward $40 billion, Oil production rose from under 1 mbpd to 1.8 mbpd, $14 billion in national debt and $7 billion in forex obligations have been cleared

“GDP grew 3.13 percent in Q1 2025, with a 7 percent growth target by 2027, Nigeria posted a positive trade balance for the first time in decades.

“Record counter-terrorism operations, governors in Abia, Enugu, Zamfara and beyond revived long-abandoned projects without new borrowing, thanks to federal reforms

“We in APC G3 have always said that despite the initial pains, the policies of the present administration, with the support of the people will bring Nigeria out of the present economic challenges.

“True, these reforms have exacerbated cost-of-living strains, but they were inevitable to avert a descent into crises resembling Venezuela or Zimbabwe.

“We urge the opposition, naysayers, some media houses etc to acknowledge these gains instead of dredging alarmist negativity in perpetuity,” the group added.