President Muhammadu Buhari said he is “happy to leave” the Nigerian economy in capable hands as his term comes to an end in exactly one week on Monday in Lagos.
He also voiced confidence in Bola Tinubu, the incoming president of Nigeria, saying that Tinubu will enhance the foundation for public-private partnership policies and quicken Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
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Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, revealed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled ‘President Buhari inaugurates Dangote Refinery, calls it a game changer for Nigeria’s economy.’
The President said when he inaugurated Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos;
I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands. I am confident that my successor, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment.
Buhari praised the achievement as a huge milestone for Nigeria’s economy and a game changer for the downstream petroleum products market in the entire African area while speaking at the event, which was attended by Heads of State from Ghana, Togo, Niger, Senegal, and a delegate of the President of Chad.
He further noted;
This mega industry we are commissioning today is a clear example of what can be achieved when entrepreneurs are encouraged and supported and when an enabling environment is created for investments and for businesses to thrive.
I am confident that my successor, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will sustain the improvement in our economic and business environment and strengthen the framework of our public-private partnership policies to accelerate the pace of our economic growth and development.
I am happy to leave our economy in very competent hands.
Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy has faced significant challenges over the years, including deficits in economic infrastructure, insurgency, and external crises such as the Global Financial Crisis, oil price collapses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
He said;
The consequence of these challenges constitute a severe strain on our economy, limiting Government’s ability to provide basic infrastructure without resorting to huge borrowings.
Our Government, therefore, took the decision to focus attention on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill the enormous gap in investments not only in infrastructure but also in all critical sectors.
