President Bola Tinubu has affirmed that the country is on the path of recovery.
He made the affirmation during the first Presidential Media Chat with journalists on Monday, December 23.
Recall Tinubu had presented the country’s 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly, christened ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’.
With a record outlay of N49.7tn, the budget aims to consolidate economic reforms, restore macroeconomic stability, foster inclusive growth, reduce poverty, and promote equitable income distribution.
Responding to those who have criticized the budget presentation, he said: “Regardless of what critics are saying and the criticism, this is a budget of restoration and hope.
“Nigeria is on the path of recovery. We can’t finish the job in one calendar year. I’m not giving myself any excuse. It is only 18 months.
“The funds are judiciously used. We consider the welfare of service men and women. We have a huge country with lot of forest, unoccupied spaces. So we need to give them credit for what they are doing today.
“We need to produce more for consumption locally. Give reasonable level of funding, and low interest rates to farmers. Improve the security so that people can return to farms and produce more food. Encourage procurement of manufacturing items. Production of jobs.
“We are talking of export incentives, building affordable transportation, we have Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).”
The Nation