By Ismail Abdulaziz
Abuja: President Bola Tinubu says his administration will continue to put in place measures to bring succour to Nigerians.
At a tripartite meeting with governors and business people on Sunday in Abuja, he pledged that all options would be explored to resolve the nation’s socio-economic challenges.
The President met with Governors Charles Soludo of Anambra and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun States; Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Tony Elumelu as well as Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
At the meeting, President Tinubu said the government was ready to rub minds with all stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the current situation in the country.
“Let’s look at what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong to bring life back to the economy.
“Like I said many times, the people of this country are the only people who we have to please.
“We are very much concerned; from students to mothers and fathers, farmers, and the traders, realising that everyone of us will have to fetch water from the same well.
“We are looking for additional efforts that might help the downtrodden Nigerians and we will provide that hope and reassurance that economic recovery is on its way.
“We are not saying that we have all the answers but we will not be blamed for not trying.
“We assure Nigerians that we will do our best to get our marshal plans in place and fashion out the best economic future for this country,” President Tinubu said.
In his briefing, Gov. Soludo said that the meeting allowed for cross fertilisation of ideas on the state of the economy and the way forward and that every Nigerian needed to contribute to its growth.
“We have all the potentials and we have all that it takes to make Nigeria ride through these turbulent times and put the economy back on a sustainable growth.
“I think there is unity of purpose, determination, the sense of patriotism and determination by all to make it happen and, by the special grace of God, it is now the execution, execution execution,” Soludo said.
The governor of Ogun State, for his part, said all governors had resolved to join hands with the President to provide the necessary intervention to cushion the effect of the administration’s reforms.
Dapo also assured Nigerians that the government at all levels would continue to support them through the trying period.
“I assure Nigerians that better times are in the offing shortly.
“In my State and in other States, we are bringing in rice, we are bringing in food items and we are selling at rates that can be obtained before the downslide of the Naira,” Dapo said.
Similarly Dangote of Dangote Group, after the meeting, also disclosed that the committee deliberated on issues concerning the economy, food security, national security and job creation.
“I have confidence that Nigeria and Nigerians have the potential to be great again.
“The country is on the path of transformation,” Dangote said.
Rabiu, who is the Chairman of BUA Group, said the meeting dwelt on issues about the foreign exchange rate and how to bring it down.
“We discussed how to bring the foreign exchange rate down.
“We all know that what is happening as regards the foreign exchange is artificial.
“It is manipulative and, thank God, the CBN is doing quite a lot,” Rabiu said.
Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, said that the various discussions and solutions would reshape the country, alleviate poverty, create employment and put food on the tables of Nigerians.
Ajayi-Kadir of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria said that the private sector was looking forward to the implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting.
“The issues surrounding foreign exchange, insecurity and general operating environment were discussed.
“And we received the assurances of Mr President that, very soon, we are going to start to see some major changes.
“I think, in the advisory committee that has been formed, the private sector will play a very significant role.
“And Nigerians, going forward, should be hopeful that we are having solutions to the challenges that we have,” Ajayi-Kadir said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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