By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration are laying the groundwork for greater stability, increased investment and stronger purchasing power in the country.
Aniagwu, who spoke on Morning Dew, a programme on DOTT TV, acknowledged the hardship being experienced by Nigerians but said the reforms should be viewed against the structural weaknesses that had constrained the economy over the years.
He likened the reform process to the treatment of an open wound, explaining that medication could cause discomfort when applied to an injury but was ultimately intended to promote healing.
According to him, years of fiscal pressure, foreign exchange instability, weak productive capacity and revenue challenges had created conditions that made difficult economic decisions necessary.
“The discomfort associated with reforms is temporary. What is important is the destination. Sometimes, the right path may not be the most comfortable, but it is the one that leads to sustainable progress,” he said.
The commissioner said assessments by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank pointed to improving macroeconomic conditions and greater resilience in the Nigerian economy, although he acknowledged that poverty, food insecurity and other pressures remained significant challenges.
Aniagwu said the significance of improved economic stability would ultimately depend on its ability to translate into tangible benefits for households and businesses.
He explained that stronger government finances could improve the ability of governments to meet obligations such as salaries and pensions, as well as settle payments for contractors executing public projects.
Such payments, he said, would inject money into the economy, with workers, contractors, traders, farmers and small business operators spending their earnings and thereby sustaining economic activity within local communities.
Aniagwu noted that increased purchasing power could stimulate demand for goods and services, encourage production and create opportunities for businesses to expand.
He also pointed to intervention programmes targeted at vulnerable citizens and small businesses, saying such measures were necessary to ensure that economic stabilisation was not confined to national economic indicators but reached communities and households.
The commissioner urged governments at all levels to maintain policies that support production, encourage investment and broaden participation in economic activities.
He said the process of economic recovery required consistency and patience, stressing that the objective should be to build an economy capable of generating sustainable opportunities rather than relying on short-term interventions.
Aniagwu expressed confidence that sustained reforms and stronger economic growth would, over time, create conditions for improved opportunities and living standards for Nigerians.
His comments come amid continuing public debate over the effects of the Federal Government’s economic reforms. Recent reports on his separate September 17 engagement have similarly highlighted his argument that improved government finances are enabling greater spending on infrastructure, workers’ obligations and grassroots interventions.
