President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed Nigeria’s problems with corruption and inefficiency on the oil boom which occurred in the 1970s, while admitting that it also had some positive effects on the country. The Nigerian president has also highlighted three changes the present administration is driving towards, in order to reposition Nigeria for inclusive growth.
In an article by Buhari featured in The Wall Street Journal, he listed several problems affecting the country, and proffered three solutions to them. He also mentioned that one of the main successes his administration has recorded since he assumed office about a year ago, has been to unite regional and global allies to push back Boko Haram.
The following are excerpts from Muhammadu Buhari’s article stating the three changes he proffered as solutions to Nigeria’s many problems:
Restore trust
“We have begun to tackle the endemic corruption and mismanagement that is crippling our economy and corroding trust in our institutions. The anti-corruption fight is at the heart of combating poverty and improving security. We have stepped up enforcement and new prosecutions to get our house in order, and I have called for foreign governments to work with us to identify where funds stolen during previous administrations are lodged and for multi-state cooperation to combat oil theft.”
“Fighting corruption is not enough. We need an accountable government and a public sector that can do more with less. We have already taken initial steps by bringing all government finances into a single treasury account where we can monitor spending and impose discipline, implementing zero-based budgets and benchmarks targeted at waste and fraud, and establishing electronic platforms for government agency interface.”
Rebalance the economy
“In a world of lower oil prices and dollar revenues, the only sustainable path is to reduce Nigeria’s over-reliance on imports. We must rebalance our economy by empowering entrepreneurs and producers, big and small, to create more of what their fellow Nigerians demand. The supply of foreign exchange to the economy must be increased. This requires radically increasing exports and productivity and improving the investment climate and ease of doing business.”
“Nigeria’s growth and job creation will be led by the private sector. We are a young, entrepreneurial society with vibrant success stories in new industries such as telecommunications, technology and entertainment. Government is doing its part to lower taxes on small businesses, eliminate bureaucracy to bring the informal economy out of the shadows and provide development funding for priority sectors such as agriculture. The Central Bank has moved to introduce greater flexibility in our exchange-rate policy. These actions are a down payment on our people’s ability to succeed.”
Regenerate growth
“We must reposition our economy by attracting investment in domestic industries and infrastructure. Nigeria has huge untapped gas reserves and also a critical shortage of electricity. Our private sector loses too much of its revenue due to brownouts and power outages. Half of my fellow Nigerians have no access to the power grid. Investment in our power infrastructure, restructuring of the state-run oil-and-gas sector and development of other industries such as solid minerals, metals and petrochemicals will help to create a virtuous circle of growth and exports while creating jobs and reducing poverty.”
“I am optimistic that our actions are providing the breathing room Nigeria needs during this period of fundamental change. But we cannot improve living conditions and restore fiscal health without making people feel safe and secure—just as we cannot defeat militancy without reducing poverty and dislocation.”
