The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Abdullahi, at an event in Abuja on Thursday, argued that Tinubu’s administration needs more time to consolidate its ongoing economic reforms.
He said the reforms were necessary to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s long-term development, despite the immediate difficulties associated with implementing them.
According to him, there is a need to enlighten young Nigerians about the Tinubu administration’s policies and encourage them to understand the long-term implications of the reforms.
“We are engaging people from across the country, trying to enlighten them about the reforms of Mr President and also to let them see the big picture,” he said.
He likened the reforms to removing cancer from the body, arguing that although the process could be painful, it was necessary to secure the country’s future.
“You know, it’s like if you have cancer, to remove cancer is very painful, but if you don’t remove it, you will die. So the reforms are helping us to get that cancer out of us,” Abdullahi said.
He added that Nigeria needed to establish the right foundation to shape its future, noting that many of the suggestions made by young Nigerians during the engagements aligned with the direction of the Tinubu administration’s policies.
“Reforms are not a one-off event. It’s a journey. You need to start by laying the foundation, putting all the policies you need, and building the confidence,” he said.
Abdullahi argued that the government’s policies were beginning to improve investor confidence, pointing to increased international interest in Nigeria as evidence of progress.
“Today, I can confidently say that in Nigeria, we have built that confidence. We are seeing people from the international community coming to Nigeria, investing in Nigeria.
“No country in the world developed in less than 30 years. It was South Korea that developed within 30 to 40 years. But many countries, it took them more than 40 years to develop.
“So basically, that’s what we discussed. And based on that, we all agree that Mr President must stay to continue and strengthen this reform,” Abdullahi said.