Nigeria can’t afford to fail Africa, Tinubu declares

•Says his govt on right track to success

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria could not afford to fail the African continent.

Speaking yesterday while receiving visiting Bank of America officials at the State House, Abuja, the president stressed that the nation, had no reason to fail the rest of Africa.

Tinubu, according to a release issued by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, expressed confidence that his administration was on the pathway to success in spite of the challenges facing the country.

The President said his government was committed to instituting reforms that would engender the sustainable growth and development of the country.

“We believe we are on the right track so far. We believe we need all the help we can get,” the president said, asking the bank’s management for support and partnership that would advance mutual benefits for Nigeria and the financial institution.

Tinubu said governance and development challenges facing the country could not be addressed without fiscal and institutional reforms.

According to him, “21st Century actions on climate change, finance and innovation are intertwined. Having a good platform and believing in innovation will help in undertaking reforms and tackling the issues. This is the largest economy and democracy in Africa and if we cannot do it, nobody will do it for us.”

Affirming that no one could do it alone, the president made a case for the bank and other willing financing institutions to help the country, for instance in partnering to ensure Nigerian gas compete favourably in the global market, as a viable source of alternative revenue.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and President of International for Bank of America, Mr. Bernard Mensah, expressed excitement about the initial steps taken by the new administration, which, he said, was taking Nigeria back to its rightful place on the global stage.

He said the bank was willing to assist the country address its immediate and longer term challenges not only in the area of financing but also contributing with ideas.

Mensah was accompanied on the visit by Head of Sub-Saharan Africa of the bank, Mrs. Yvonne Ike Fasinro, and Head of Investment Banking Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Chuba Ezenwa.