Nigeria’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic leadership, describing him as a “very smart business person” whose strategic policies are guiding Nigeria’s economy onto the right path despite global economic headwinds.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Oduwole highlighted President Tinubu’s business acumen, saying, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a very smart business person, even before being a politician. When he looks at the terrain and looks at the global headwinds and where all economies are today, when you look at the Renewed Hope agenda, the eight-point agenda, you’ll see that this economy is moving in the right direction.”
She pointed to the president’s Renewed Hope agenda—an eight-point roadmap for economic transformation—and expressed confidence in its trajectory. “Even the strongest critics will admit that whatever the lag, we’re in the right direction. And the best is yet to come.”
When asked about Nigeria’s response to US tariffs—particularly whether the country might seek to negotiate them down—Oduwole shifted the focus to domestic priorities and the broader vision of the Tinubu administration.
“The US government’s prerogative to put tariffs where they feel is good for their economy,” she said. “We also have to focus on what is good for the Nigerian economy and what will support our investors, domestic investors in particular, who are the best advertisement for foreign investments to thrive in this climate.”
Rather than reacting to US policy moves or demanding reciprocity, Oduwole outlined a strategy rooted in strengthening bilateral trade relationships, championing regional integration, and building investor confidence—particularly through sectors like fertiliser and urea, where Nigerian products are already in high demand globally.
“So we put our attention on focusing on our bilateral trade relationships. We put our attention on focusing on how to galvanize capital and investment across the region. We’re not going to focus on reacting or trying to get reciprocity. We’re going to focus on supporting. For instance, our businesses in the area of fertilizer and urea, that’s an industry that is growing and is going to continue to grow for the next decade to more than. This is a product that is wanted across the world. We have markets for it in Brazil. We have a strong market in the US. And so we’re going to continue to focus on those businesses and see how to support them to thrive.”
Melissa Enoch
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