Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) has said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration inherited the worst economic challenges so far in the Fourth Republic.
However, he said the administration has shown commitment towards rebuilding the economy and the transformation of same to a strong, self sufficient economy.
With a plea for more patience, he stated the President’s long-term vision driven by proactive policy towards achieving sustainable economic recovery, is slowly yielding fruits.
Karimi spoke at the maiden edition of Igbaruku Day organised by Igbaruku-Okeri Community Development Association (ICDA) in Igbaruku-Okeri, Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State at the weekend.
Noting that the process of achieving economic recovery should be seen as a collective effort both by government and the citizenry “since government alone cannot make all that is good for the people happen”, the lawmaker charged the people to be patriotic and committed to the development of their communities.
He stated that with the citizens playing thier parts, the economic challenges being faced by the current administration will be reasonably addressed with major successes and in the short-term.
“The government of Tinubu inherited a bad, in fact the worst situation, so far. Tinubu met the average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 1.8 percent. The four years average preceding the administration of Tinubu was 15.1 percent.
“Nigeria was so bad that government printed money without activities to back it up. It is still our government, APC (All Progressives Congress). We admit that. Nigerian Naira was almost turned to paper, where one US Dollar equated 1900 Naira. But the Tinubu government is not resting on its oars.
“They are working tirelessly everyday to find solutions to the problems. Today, one Dollar equals 1,300 Naira. Port Harcourt refinery is back, Warri refinery is back. With patience with President Tinubu, we will live to see the Nigeria of our dream, in the short-term,” he said.
Karimi stated that the purpose of gatherings like Igbaruku Day is to bring people together to work towards a common goal of improving the quality of lives and standards of living in their communities.
While also reiterating his resolve to the infrastructural development of Kogi West, the Senator informed the people of his effort towards ensuring that the Iluhagba-Egbe Federalv Trunk A Road is given a facelift.
He promised that the palliative repairs ongoing will resume very shortly so as to help ease the transportation of farm produce as well as improve the economy of the area.