Public policy analyst and former political aspirant, Hon. Prince Nixon Ndubisi Okwara, has reacted to recent claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the state of the economy, warning that proposals to reverse current reforms could worsen hardship for Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Friday, Okwara was reacting to Atiku’s claim that the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies of the Tinubu administration have deepened poverty without delivering corresponding benefits to citizens.
Okwara acknowledged the economic difficulties but disagreed with the call to return to past interventions.
“Let us be honest: Nigerians are experiencing real economic hardship. Families are struggling with rising costs, businesses are under pressure, and purchasing power has been weakened,” he said.
“However, acknowledging hardship must not become a justification to return to the failed economic prescriptions of yesterday.”
He said it was difficult to understand an agenda that “appears to romanticise the era of fuel subsidies and other economically unsustainable interventions that distorted our economy, encouraged leakages and placed enormous burden on public finances”.
“Nigeria cannot afford to move backwards in the name of providing temporary relief,” Okwara stated.
The former APC aspirant for Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II noted that while the removal of fuel subsidy and other reforms came with short-term pain, they have also produced structural gains, including increased allocations to state and local governments.
“For taking difficult decisions that previous governments repeatedly postponed, this administration deserves acknowledgement,” he said.
Okwara stressed that the true test of reform is how quickly it translates to relief for ordinary Nigerians.
“Reform is not an achievement in itself unless citizens feel it. The focus now must be on better wages, affordable living, stronger purchasing power, viable businesses and decent jobs,” he added.
He called for the next phase of reforms to prioritise plugging leakages in public finance, strengthening accountability, reviewing wages, deepening market liberalisation, and investing in skills for Nigeria’s youth.
“Our young people must be given skills, capital and opportunities to be productive. Youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and job creation must be central to our economic agenda,” he said.
On governance and national unity, Okwara said Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as an asset. He urged leaders to uphold the rule of law, protect fundamental rights, and avoid politics based on ethnicity and religion.
“Nigeria has the human capital, resources and market to compete globally. What we need is a political system where every Nigerian feels they belong and has opportunity,” he said.
He expressed optimism that Nigerians would give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the opportunity to consolidate ongoing reforms, but said any renewed mandate must deliver deeper reform, accountability, inclusion and tangible economic relief.
“The next phase must deliver jobs, better wages, affordable opportunities, security, justice and social mobility,” Okwara said.
“We must not build a Nigeria trapped in the politics of yesterday. We must not allow poverty to be used as a political tool or division as an instrument of power. What we need is a secure, prosperous and united Nigeria.”
Hon. Prince Nixon Ndubisi Okwara is a public and policy analyst, advocate, real estate developer, and community development professional.