President Bola Tinubu has warned that the Nigerian Naira would have become so worthless it would need to be transported by wheelbarrow had his administration not intervened to steer the economy away from financial collapse. The President made the remarks during a visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he urged voters to support his administration and Governor Umo Eno ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Speaking at a reception held at the Ibom Palm Resort, Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the January 16, 2027 election as a consequential event that would define the country's future direction. He defended his economic policies by highlighting the severe fiscal challenges facing the nation when he assumed office, noting that 27 out of 36 governors were unable to pay salaries, pensions, or gratuities at the time.
“When I took over, 27 governors out of 36 of this country were unable to pay salary, not to talk of pension, and gratuity. Today, I can say that we are out of that tunnel,” Tinubu stated. “And I can beat my chest to say we are out of the despair, the dark tunnel of uncertainty and the calamity of a possible bankruptcy.”
The President further emphasized the severity of the potential economic outcome without his administration's actions. “By now if we didn’t take over, if we didn’t do what we did, we will be using the wheelbarrows to move our naira about because it will have become valueless,” he said, asserting that the current economic stability is a direct result of the steps taken to prevent bankruptcy.
In addressing the electorate, particularly young people, Tinubu urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the document as their most potent instrument for determining the country's political future. He framed the upcoming vote as a critical decision point for Nigeria's trajectory.
During the event, the President also praised Governor Umo Eno, pointing to the Ibom Palm Resort as evidence of purposeful leadership. Tinubu noted that the resort was built on 73 acres of land previously affected by gully erosion, which has since been reclaimed and surrounded by an artificial lake. He described the development as a demonstration of achievable vision when honest people work for their communities.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
