Tinubu Building More Competitive, Credible Nigeria — Uzodimma

Governor of Hope Uzodimma has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is laying the foundation for a more competitive, credible and economically stable Nigeria through bold reforms designed to reposition the country for long-term growth.

Uzodimma, who is also Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, made the remarks on Monday while addressing members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Nigeria in Abuja.

The governor said the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, had transformed Nigeria’s fiscal outlook and restored investor confidence.

According to him, the reforms have moved the country from “foundational repair” to visible economic recovery.

“What comes out on the other side will be a Nigeria more competent, more competitive, and more credible than the one any of us has known,” Uzodimma stated.

He described the former fuel subsidy regime as “the single largest organised corruption pipeline” in Nigeria’s public finance system, noting that its removal had blocked massive leakages that drained the treasury for decades while increasing revenue allocations to both federal and state governments.

“The era of state governors travelling to Abuja for emergency bailouts to pay salaries is over,” he added.

Uzodimma also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway as evidence of the administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal.

He further explained that the floating of the naira had improved transparency in the foreign exchange market and narrowed the gap between official and parallel exchange rates.

The governor disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to 49.4 billion dollars as of March 2026, while the Nigerian Exchange recorded over 55 per cent growth year-to-date.

Speaking on global economic challenges, Uzodimma said Nigeria had remained resilient despite the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions in global oil supply chains.

He added that reforms in education, taxation, the digital economy and security were already yielding positive results.

According to him, more than 1.3 million Nigerian students had benefited from the Federal Government’s interest-free education loan scheme, while recent tax reforms exempted low-income earners and small businesses from several taxes.

Uzodimma assured the diplomatic community that Nigeria remained committed to strengthening institutions, improving governance and expanding international cooperation.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu said the Federal Government would continue implementing reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, boosting infrastructure and improving citizens’ welfare.

Governor of Kaduna State and Deputy Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Uba Sani, said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening institutions and creating an enabling environment for investors to thrive under Tinubu’s leadership.

“We are committed to building resilient economies in the subnationals to enhance the welfare of our citizens,” Sani said.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, commended Nigeria’s reform efforts and described the country as a strategic partner to the EU in Africa.

Mignot noted that the EU recognised the courage required to implement difficult economic reforms and expressed confidence that the measures would strengthen Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness.

He added that the European Union would continue supporting Nigeria in the areas of trade, governance, infrastructure, digital economy and security cooperation.

According to him, reforms that improve transparency, institutional stability and investor confidence are critical to sustainable economic growth.

Also speaking, Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, John Ballout Jnr., praised Nigeria for its support to Liberia over the years.

“We have a second chance today because of Nigeria. We come with a deep sense of appreciation. We are here to cement the relationship and have designated ourselves as Nigeria’s best friend,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, Mersole J. Mellejor, pledged continued collaboration with Nigeria in promoting economic stability, peace and prosperity.

About 29 ambassadors from different countries attended the event alongside representatives of the governors of Delta State and Akwa Ibom State, serving ministers, senators, presidential aides and directors of various directorates under the Renewed Hope Ambassadors initiative.