A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ayodele Arise, has said Nigeria’s economy is performing better under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to what he described as bold and decisive economic reforms. He made this statement while speaking with journalists, dismissing criticisms from opposition figures who have questioned the direction of the current administration.
The former Ekiti North senator said President Tinubu’s policies are already showing positive results, pointing to improvements backed by publicly available data. According to Arise, inflation is gradually easing, while government investment in key sectors has increased. He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major achievement, noting that the student loan scheme has helped many young Nigerians gain access to higher education without financial hardship.
Arise also highlighted improved stability in the education sector, linking it to better engagement between the federal government and university unions such as ASUU and NASU. He said fewer strikes mean students can now complete their courses within the expected time, unlike in the past when prolonged disruptions forced many to spend six or seven years on four-year programmes, worsening brain drain.
On governance and economic restructuring, the APC chieftain praised the push for local government financial autonomy, saying it would boost development at the grassroots. He also defended the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a tough but necessary decision to stop corruption and waste. According to him, only a determined leader could take such a step and remain committed despite public pressure.
