Tinubu Media Force Welcomes Okonjo-Iweala’s Endorsement of Economic Reforms

The Tinubu Media Force has hailed remarks by World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, describing them as an independent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies.

Speaking at an international forum, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala praised the administration’s reforms for steering Nigeria toward “irreplaceable positivity” and “revolving progression.”

In a statement signed by National Coordinator Oluwagbenga Abiola, the group said the recognition affirms that reforms under Tinubu are building a foundation for sustainable growth. Abiola cited National Bureau of Statistics data showing GDP grew 3.13% in Q1 2025, driven by a 5% rise in the services sector. The government is targeting 7% annual growth by 2027 and aims to quadruple the economy by 2030, based on a rebased GDP of ₦372.8 trillion.

Key initiatives include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has disbursed over ₦104 billion to more than 600,000 students in federal tertiary institutions, covering ₦20.07 billion in tuition and ₦12.82 billion in stipends. The scheme processes over 9,000 applications daily.

Infrastructure projects span the $11 billion, 700km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, now under construction with $747 million funding for its first 47.47km, and the 1,000km Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway. Other works include the Kano–Maiduguri dualisation, Enugu–Port Harcourt rehabilitation, Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano completion, and 330 road and bridge reconstructions nationwide.

The administration is also building 10,000 affordable housing units, expanding health insurance to cover children, commissioning new federal medical centres, stabilising electricity, and improving passport services. Agricultural reforms and compressed natural gas (CNG) rollout aim to cut food and transport costs.

A proposed tax reform bill seeks to ease burdens on low- and middle-income earners by eliminating regressive levies, simplifying collection, and focusing on high-income sectors and large corporations.

Commending Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s “objective and fact-based” analysis, the Tinubu Media Force urged critics to measure the administration’s performance by concrete results rather than partisan narratives. The group reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring ministries, highlighting policy benefits, and ensuring citizens feel the impact of government initiatives.