President Asiwaju Tinubu is Doing Very Well BUT…

By Ayo Dada

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

PRESIDENT TINUBU: ON HIS MANDATE…

On May 29, 2023, day one of his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed Nigeria’s long-standing fuel subsidy and saved the government billions of dollars annually. This reduced corruption tied to subsidy payments. He freed up funds for infrastructure and social programs and the savings from this are being invested in infrastructure, meaning better roads, healthcare, and education.

Then came his foreign Exchange (FX) Reform which unified Nigeria’s multiple exchange rates and allowed the naira to float more freely. This increased transparency in the currency market, attracted more foreign investor confidence, and reduced arbitrage and “round-tripping” corruption which has stabilized the economy and creating jobs as investments have started flowing in.

His push for Infrastructure & Investment, continuing and expanding major roads, rail, and energy projects is key for economic growth, it supports business operations and logistics which create jobs (construction, logistics), better roads = reduced transport costs (eventually).

His Revenue & Tax Reforms is improving tax collection and government revenue systems which reduces our dependence on oil, strengthens government finances which will lead to better public services.

His Renewed Global Engagement is repositioning Nigeria globally and engaging investors and foreign governments. This attracts foreign direct investment, strengthens Nigeria’s international standing will lead to job creation and business opportunities.

The above are not the only policies the president has embarked on since his ascension to power but are 5 of his major policies that are driving other policies of his. These policies are extremely important in stabilizing a broken economy, an economy on life support by the time he became president, and his has achieved this objective of stabilizing the Nigerian economy. President Tinubu did not only meet the economic objective, he has surpassed it and moved on to developmental and modernization stage of not just our broken and underdeveloped infrastructure but our education, health and all facets of our nation’s development.

Unfortunately the benefits take time to trickle down, hence the pains the average Nigerian is going through.

The higher fuel prices, the rising cost of food and transport, the pressure on income and savings is real and I commend Nigerians for their long suffering and patience.

We must remember that there are no gains without pains and the pains will surely begin to ease in no distant future as the economy becomes stable more and more.

The bottom Line is that President Tinubu’s bold economic reform is tackling problems previous governments avoided.

My advise to the President is to find a way to bring relief to average Nigerians who are feeling the effects of these reforms.

The reforms (fuel subsidy removal, FX changes) are structurally important, however, the only way to make reforms politically and socially sustainable is to pair them with fast, visible relief.

Here’s what would actually help Nigerians on the street:

1. Direct Cash Support (Fastest Relief):
   What to do: Expand targeted cash transfers to low-income households.Pay it consistently (monthly, not one-off) This puts money directly in people’s hands, helps families absorb higher food and transport costs. Nigerians will feel “I can still feed my family this month.”

The president Must be TRANSPARENT and well-targeted to avoid corruption.

2. Transport Subsidy (Focused, Not Blanket): The President can subsidize public transport (buses, rail) instead of fuel itself, support state-run transport systems. This will reduce daily commuting cost without reintroducing fuel subsidy.This means “I can get to work without spending half my salary on transport.”
3. Aggressive Food Price Stabilization: The President should release grain reserves, support farmers with fertilizer, security, and logistics temporarily reduce import duties on key food items. We know that food inflation hits the poorest hardest. “At least food prices stop rising every week.”
4. Massive Job Creation (Public Works):
   The president should launch a nationwide public works programs (roads, sanitation, housing). Pay people directly for labor. This creates income immediately and builds infrastructure at the same time, “Even if things are expensive, I have income.”
5. Support Small Businesses (SMEs): The government should give Low-interest loans, grants for micro businesses, tax relief for small traders. Small businesses are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. “My business survives despite rising costs.”
6. Stabilize Power Supply: This will improve electricity reliability, support solar and mini-grid solutions. This is important because fuel price increase affects generators which leads to higher business costs. “I don’t spend all my money on fuel for power.”
7. Ensure Local Refining Works (Critical): The President should support local refineries (e.g. Dangote Refinery) which will reduce dependence on imported fuel. This cuts fuel cost volatility
   Strengthens naira indirectly “Fuel prices stop jumping unpredictably.”
8. The President should as a matter of fact ensure that the Lawmakers/Representatives must sacrifice part of their salaries and benefits and reduce their cost of governance as much as possible, be transparent with it to where the Nigerian masses can see for themselves. “At least the ogas are sacrificing too.”
9. Clear, Honest Communication: This is highly important. They President must carry Nigerians along with him in his attempts to alleviate the pains of the masses. He should explain where subsidy savings are going, show visible projects funded by reforms because people can endure hardship if they trust the process. “At least I see where the sacrifice is going.”

The Real Strategy (What Will Actually Work)
To reduce hardship, Tinubu needs a 3-layer approach:

1. Immediate Relief
   Cash transfers, food support, transport subsidies.
2. Short-Term Stability
   Control inflation, stabilize currency, support businesses.
3. Long-Term Growth
   Infrastructure, energy, industrialization.

The reforms themselves aren’t the problem, the lack of cushioning is. Right now, many Nigerians feel everything is more expensive, and their income hasn’t increased.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must convert economic reform into visible daily relief because in the end, people don’t judge policy they judge how life feels.

Lastly, in ensuring that the relief is nationwide, the President Must ensure the state governors REPLICATE all the 8 steps suggested/recommended in their respective state by signing a Memorandum of Agreement.

President Tinubu should create a Committee on Oversight and Accountability to ensure state governors conform failing which the committee will recommend that the President should from the defaulting state’s monthly allocations, to fulfill the provisions in the Memorandom of Agreement.

By Ayo Dada – MaTaZ ArIsInG

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