Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has urged President Bola Tinubu and his economic team to swiftly address Nigeria’s soaring inflation and unemployment, warning that tangible action is necessary for citizens to benefit from the administration’s ongoing reforms.
Ndume, in a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, commended Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency on food security, calling it a step in the right direction. However, he insisted that broader economic interventions are urgently required.
“The Federal Government must pay attention to the rate of inflation and bring it down,” Ndume said. “It must also ensure the stability of the naira against the greenback (dollar), especially since we are an import-dependent country.”
He recommended that Nigeria leverage its recent inclusion in the BRICS economic bloc—which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—by exploring alternatives to dollar-based trade, particularly the Chinese Yuan.
Highlighting the need for better policy implementation, Ndume proposed the creation of a Department of Government Efficiency under the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
According to him, this unit would ensure Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) adhere to budgetary provisions and deliver on their mandates effectively.
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His remarks follow President Tinubu’s reaffirmation—through SGF George Akume—of his administration’s commitment to food security at the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage held in Abuja. The President emphasized the expansion of irrigation infrastructure and participatory water management, pointing out Nigeria’s 3.1 million hectares of irrigable land along the Niger and Benue river basins.
Ndume praised similar food-focused efforts by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who declared a state of emergency on food security and distributed thousands of tractors, irrigation tools, and fertilisers to boost agricultural production.
“Boosting food production will help bring down market prices,” Ndume added, urging other state governors to emulate Zulum’s model.
The senator concluded by calling on President Tinubu to also declare states of emergency on the economy and national security, describing it as a strategic move to drive comprehensive growth and development.