Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s efforts at stabilizing Nigeria’s economy, describing his economic reforms as steps in the right direction.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala said the administration deserved credit for achieving stability, which she noted is essential for any meaningful economic improvement.
“The President and his team have worked hard to stabilize the economy, and you can’t really improve an economy unless it’s stable,” she said. “He has to be given the credit for the stability of the economy, so the reforms have been in the right direction.”
The former Nigerian finance minister, however, stressed the need to move beyond stabilization and focus on stimulating growth and providing relief for citizens bearing the brunt of the ongoing reforms.
“What is needed next is growth. We now need to grow the economy and put in social safety nets so that the people who are feeling the pinch of the reforms can also have some support to weather the hardship,” she explained.
She added that discussions with the President centered on measures to expand job creation, boost economic activity, and enhance household incomes, while ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians receive adequate support.
