The President of GLOBE Legislators International (GLI), and Two-Term Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has said President Tinubu’s economic reforms are stabilizing Nigeria and positioning the country for increased foreign investment and growth.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, Onuigbo said Nigeria inherited a broken economy in May 2023 with 23.7 trillion Naira in Ways and Means and 7.5 billion dollars debt to foreign airlines.
He defended the removal of fuel subsidy as a courageous decision needed to stop bleeding the treasury.
Onuigbo noted that states and local governments now receive significantly higher allocations that must trickle down to citizens.
He further said the establishment of the South East Development Commission is a major win.
He recalled pushing for it in the 8th and 9th Assemblies, but it was only assented to under Tinubu in the 10th Assembly.
“Beyond SEDC, the zone has benefited from federal presence with the reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha roads, airport expansions, and approval of new universities in Abia and Imo,” he said.
Onuigbo stressed that President Tinubu directed the creation of Abia Airport, the state’s first, and commenced construction of its first federal secretariat 35 years after creation.
Onuigbo expressed confidence that zonal commissions will deliver. “NEDC has rebuilt schools, hospitals, police stations and resettled IDPs devastated by insurgency since 2020,” he added
He emphasized that the administration is winning, pointing to improved normalcy in the South East where people now trade on Mondays, and dismissed claims of government complicity, saying the fight is decisive and intelligence-driven.
He criticized proposals to return fuel subsidy, calling it cheap politics.
“Reforms have improved crude processing to 700,000 barrels daily and turned trade deficit of 45 billion Naira in 2023 to 7.55 trillion Naira surplus,” he stated.
Onuigbo lauded NELFUND for supporting over one million students with 303 billion Naira.
“Nigeria must enforce climate laws and demolish structures blocking drainages to address flooding, in overriding public interest,” Onuigbo said.
