National Information Technology Development Agency Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has urged Nigerians to return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027, saying the administration requires additional time to entrench its economic reform programme.
Speaking at an event in Abuja on Thursday, Abdullahi said the measures being pursued by the Tinubu government were needed to create a durable base for Nigeria’s long-term growth, even though their rollout has brought short-term hardship.
He said young Nigerians should be better informed about the administration’s policy agenda and encouraged to consider the longer-term effects of the reforms.
“We are engaging people from across the country, trying to enlighten them about the reforms of Mr President and also to let them see the big picture,” he said.
Abdullahi compared the reform process with surgery to remove cancer, saying it may be painful but is essential for the country’s survival and future prospects.
“You know, it’s like if you have cancer, to remove cancer is very painful, but if you don’t remove it, you will die. So the reforms are helping us to get that cancer out of us,” Abdullahi said.
He said Nigeria must put the proper building blocks in place to determine its future, adding that many proposals raised by young people during the consultations were consistent with the direction of Tinubu’s policies.
“Reforms are not a one-off event. It’s a journey. You need to start by laying the foundation, putting all the policies you need, and building the confidence,” he said.
Abdullahi said the government’s policy actions were starting to lift investor confidence, citing what he described as growing interest from overseas investors as a sign of improvement.
“Today, I can confidently say that in Nigeria, we have built that confidence. We are seeing people from the international community coming to Nigeria, investing in Nigeria.
“No country in the world developed in less than 30 years. It was South Korea that developed within 30 to 40 years. But many countries, it took them more than 40 years to develop.
“So basically, that’s what we discussed. And based on that, we all agree that Mr President must stay to continue and strengthen this reform,” Abdullahi said.
