Vice President Shettima: Tinubu and I Empathize with Nigerians Amid Economic Reforms

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed empathy for Nigerians over the ongoing economic hardship caused by the government’s current reforms. Speaking at the 30th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja yesterday, Shettima acknowledged the challenges many Nigerians are facing but stressed that the reforms are essential to achieving sustainable economic growth. He said, “My heart and the heart of President Tinubu go out to most of the Nigerian people. We empathize with what the poor and the young are going through in Nigeria. But we have no option, as he (Tinubu) rightly said.” Shettima emphasized that Nigeria’s economy has long been unstable, overly dependent on oil revenues, and has struggled to create sufficient jobs for its growing population. He called for urgent economic diversification, highlighting key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and the digital economy as areas with potential for inclusive growth. “The digital economy, in particular, holds a promising future for revitalizing our economy,” the Vice President noted, referencing global projections on workforce talent. He stressed the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population and widespread English proficiency to turn the country’s demographic surge into an asset, rather than a liability. Shettima acknowledged the difficulties of some policy choices but said they are necessary to put the economy on the path to growth, stating, “Yes, some of these decisions are unpopular, but they must be taken to set the economy on the trajectory of growth.” The Vice President concluded by emphasizing that the government’s focus remains on building an economy that offers opportunities for all Nigerians, especially the younger generation, while addressing the current economic challenges head-on.