2023: Tinubu Vows To Revive Industries in Nigeria

The presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday promised that his administration would revive Nigeria’s dead industries if elected in 2023.

Tinubu made the pledge at a town hall meeting and dialogue held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State where he presented his action plan to captains of industry and other key players in the private sector.

Tinubu said the 2023 presidential election presented another opportunity for Nigeria, which, he said, stands at the threshold between indifference and greatness.

The party’s flag bearer, who is also a former governor of Lagos, said the cardinal programmes of his economic policies would not be limited to the sole domain of one sector, noting that the benefits would be reaped in the cooperation between government and the private sector.

According to him, the private sector and the government should constantly be at war. Still, they must not wage the battle as enemies, saying that the government and business community must stand as inseparable allies to combat common enemies of scarcity, underdevelopment, joblessness and the fear they brought to the polity.

He gave the assurance that his administration would be targeting double-digit GDP for the country to reduce the poverty rate and revive industries by bringing the nation’s industrial policy to life.

“I share a few ideas that provide some insight into my vision for a more prosperous and secure nation where hope is renewed and despair rebuffed. All Nigerians must be partners in our better future. We must maintain the spirit of respectful and productive dialogue. At times what I say may help you. Other times, what you say may enlighten me. We must always talk and confer with the best of intentions. Just as I maintain an open-door policy before the election, I shall continue to honour it after the election.

“We shall not be satisfied by bolstering traditional sectors. We will foster productive excellence in new areas, such as manufacturing and the Nollywood entertainment sector. Through active participation in the digital economy, we shall make Nigeria a leader, instead of a bystander, in the fourth industrial revolution. We will seek a consumer credit revolution, working in concert with the banking sector. Credit at affordable rates enables the purchase of more homemade products and the construction of more homes. The standard of living shall rise and the strength of the business sector shall increase in similar measure,” he said.

Speaking further, Tinubu said his experience in both the private sectors and public office afforded him a special appreciation of the economic potency that could be achieved by leveraging collaboration between the government and the business community.

The party chieftain said Lagos was the appropriate location for the private sector engagement as, according to him, the State’s economic growth had become his visible experiment that could support his claim of competency and ability.

“We turned this Lagos into a safer, more prosperous place where people can go about any legitimate vocation or venture regardless of their ethnicity, religion, region or prior social station. We did more than open Lagos for business. We opened the door for all Nigerians to join and experience the decent things progressive democratic governance can bring.

“May I remind you that when I first entered the office, Lagos was a different story? My team and I developed a development master plan for Lagos. I can say that plan has been largely successful. The pragmatic problem-solving and teamwork that has improved the fortunes of Lagos, is what I want to bring to the nation. I ask for your help as the task ahead is doable but also difficult,” the APC flag bearer stated.

Power Generation
Vice Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Kassim Shettima, in his own remark, expressed the strong commitment of the ticket if voted into power in 2023 to partner with the private sector to develop the country’s infrastructure, increase power generation to about 20,000mgwtts, among others.

Shettima, who said it was an honour for him to work side by side with Asiwaju Tinubu, in order to achieve the APC Presidential Candidate’s dream for the country, declared that the time had come for Nigerians to manufacture what they consumed, even as he projected that the APC administration under them would achieve a double-digit GDP growth for the country in the next two years.

According to the party’s vice presidential candidate, the Tinubu- led government would focus on agriculture, and increase the quality of life of Nigerians, just as he also said the focus would be directed on quality education to achieve the same aim.

Besides, he promised that the oil and gas sector of the country would be reformed.

“The time has come for Nigerians to manufacture what we consume, we need to increase local production.

Business leaders at the event include President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Coronation Capital, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and CEO of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.

Others present at the meeting were Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima and Director-General of the Tinubu campaign, Simon Lalong.

Several Governors of the APC were also in attendance.

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