Aliyu Audu, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, has asked Nigerians to stay patient and support each other as the country works towards long-term economic improvement. During an interview on Channels Television’s The Beam on June 2, he said that real development takes time, proper planning, and cooperation from everyone.
He gave examples from around the world, explaining that it took about 35 years for Singapore and around 50 years for India to grow their economies. He added that while Nigeria is different, growth still requires time and effort from all its people.
Audu, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), admitted that Nigeria has gone through a complicated political history. He said past governments, including those before the APC, made mistakes. However, instead of focusing on the past, he encouraged Nigerians to come together and look ahead.
He mentioned that the APC has led the country for ten years and that the PDP ruled for sixteen years, but those years are now part of the nation’s shared experience. According to him, it’s important for everyone to take responsibility and focus on building a better Nigeria.
When speaking about the economy, Audu said that the current rise in prices and high cost of living are mostly caused by weak purchasing power among citizens. He believes that life will improve once more jobs are created and people have more money to spend.
He also spoke about the importance of fighting corruption, saying it is one of the biggest problems holding the country back. He explained that if corruption is reduced, there will be more money available to create jobs and support development. Audu said Nigerians need to make it a goal to reject and shame corrupt behavior.
He also talked about how money should be used to keep the economy moving. When large amounts of money are kept by corrupt people and not spent, it slows down growth. He explained that money only helps the economy when it is exchanged and used in business.
Audu criticized corrupt elites who store wealth instead of using it productively, saying this kind of behavior blocks progress and weakens the economy. In his view, the nation can only move forward if money is used for the good of everyone, not hidden away by a few people.
