Okonjo Iweala Makes U-turn On Tinubu Doing-Well-Remark, Says There Is Hardship

The director of World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has seemingly clarified her remark about president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Okonjo Iweala after meeting president Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Aso Rock on 14th of August, acknowledged that Tinubu’s controversial economic reforms are steps in the right direction.

Her remark about the reforms of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu stabilizing the Nigeria’s wobbly economy, were misconstrued by the supporters of the president who inundated the Nigeria’s social media community with posts suggesting that the WTO director stated that the Nigeria’s economy is not in bad situation and that there is no hardship in the country.

Hence, Okonjo Iweala through her X handle, provided clarity to her statement after meeting the Nigeria’s president. She explained against that she actually told the Nigeria’s president that Nigerians are currently experiencing economic hardship as a result of his reforms and that his government should prioritize social safety intervention to cushion the harsh reality of his economic reforms on the poor Nigerians.

According to her, it is important for the Tinubu’s administration to put in place necessary social programs for the poor and the vulnerable that will ameliorate the economic hardship in the country.

She added also that aside the needed social interventions, the government should look forward to improving the economy necessary to create more jobs for Nigerians.

The former Nigerian minister was compelled to clarify her statement due to the reactions she received for being quoted to have stated that the Nigeria’s economy has improved under president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that there is no hardship in the country.

The Tinubu’s administration in its bid to reposition Nigeria’s economy,  devalued the country’s Naira and also stopped the age long fuel subsidy as well as electricity subsidy. These policies have seemingly weaken the country’s Naira inadvertently plunging the poor masses into hardship.

Despite promising to implement initiatives and program to palliate the hardship ravaging the poor masses, two years into his four year tenure, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is yet to fulfill this promise while poor Nigerians grapple with worsening inflation.