President Bola Tinubu on Friday defended the economic reforms undertaken by his administration, emphasizing that the measures were necessary to ensure long-term, sustainable growth for Nigeria.
Speaking at the State House in Abuja during a meeting with Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, a special envoy from the Amir of the State of Qatar, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning Nigeria’s economy through bold and strategic decisions.
He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to overhaul the tax system, noting that the reforms have significantly improved the ease of doing business, particularly for foreign investors. According to the President, these initiatives are aimed at fostering a more transparent, investor-friendly environment to attract global partnerships and drive economic development.
“We are making efforts to reform our tax system. Going by the experiences of the past and the need to depart from old ways, our reforms have been hard.
“I made tough decisions so that we could grow. We are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Read also: Tinubu Vows To Restore S’East Gas Plant, Tackle Erosion
“You can’t find a better partner than Nigeria. I always follow the global issues and your efforts. You have to do more in Nigeria to help fight poverty in the humanitarian area.
“You have done well in developing a knowledge-based economy in Qatar, but what about Nigeria?”
The President said Nigeria’s partnership with Qatar could be improved by looking into food sovereignty and economic prosperity.
Tinubu indicated Nigeria’s readiness to build on the momentum generated by his state visit to Qatar in 2024, pledging to implement all bilateral agreements between the two countries.
He directed the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to work together to ensure the timely execution of the agreements.
“To all the members of the delegation, I want to say a big thank you for coming to Nigeria. We are grateful to God for what we have experienced as partners in progress. I am also glad that the Amir of Qatar greatly remembers the issues discussed during my visit last year.
He commended the cordial and brotherly relations between Qatar and Nigeria, noting that the Qatari ambassador was aware of how seriously he regarded Qatar. He expressed Nigeria’s willingness to deepen bilateral ties.
According to Tinubu, the Qatari government had shown maturity and foresight in its efforts toward global peace, which deserved recognition. He expressed pride in Qatar’s contributions to peace, stability, human development, and prosperity. He added that, like Qatar, Nigeria faced the dual challenge of combating terrorism while supporting its neighbors, and emphasized that the country remained aware of its true allies and those assisting in addressing its challenges.