Nigeria @ 66: Ekwunife Says Economic Renewal Is Underway, Urges Nigerians to Keep Faith
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central and South-East Director of Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring (EPCM) of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Uche Ekwunife, has called on Nigerians to remain hopeful, resilient and committed to the country’s future, saying the ongoing economic reforms and investments in critical sectors are laying the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
Ekwunife said the country’s economic renewal should be viewed as a continuing process requiring patience, responsible leadership, active citizenship and sustained implementation of policies capable of translating economic reforms into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
She made the call in her Independence Day message to Nigerians, contained in a statement issued by Tony Ezike, Media Director, Senator Uche Ekwunife Campaign Council, and made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, on Thursday.
The former senator urged Nigerians to maintain faith in the country while recognising that nation-building is a collective responsibility that requires citizens to contribute positively to national development.
She encouraged Nigerians to think positively about the country, relate responsibly with one another and speak constructively about Nigeria, stressing that patriotism should be demonstrated not merely through words but through productive citizenship and commitment to the common good.
According to her, renewed confidence in Nigeria’s potential can inspire citizens to pursue their ambitions with greater determination, contribute meaningfully to national development and excel in their respective fields of endeavour.
Ekwunife, however, stressed that constructive citizenship does not mean unconditional acceptance of government policies or decisions.
Rather, she said, citizens must continue to engage government responsibly by identifying gaps, drawing attention to administrative shortcomings and demanding improvements where necessary.
She noted that effective governance is strengthened when citizens participate actively in the development process and combine legitimate demands for transparency and accountability with a willingness to contribute to the progress and stability of their communities.
The APC chieftain said the ongoing reforms in the foreign-exchange market and broader economic management, together with investments in infrastructure, education and human capital, constituted important elements of Nigeria’s economic rebuilding process.
She acknowledged that the reforms have imposed significant pressures on households and businesses, but maintained that the objective should be to ensure that the gains from economic restructuring ultimately translate into greater stability, expanded opportunities, improved productivity and better living conditions.
The Federal Government has continued to present the unification of the foreign-exchange market, fiscal reforms and increased investment in infrastructure and human capital as part of its strategy to stabilise the economy and create conditions for sustainable growth.
Ekwunife particularly highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an important intervention in expanding access to tertiary education and reducing financial barriers confronting students from less-privileged backgrounds.
According to her, the programme provides eligible Nigerian students with interest-free loans to support institutional charges and upkeep, thereby helping students remain in higher education despite financial constraints.
NELFUND’s latest published figures indicate that more than 1.1 million students have been supported through its loan programmes, with over ₦191 billion disbursed and more than 320 institutions participating in the scheme.
The senator also drew attention to the Federal Government’s continuing road construction and rehabilitation projects across the country, including infrastructure connected to the Second Niger Bridge.
She described improved transportation infrastructure as particularly important to the South-East because of the region’s extensive commercial activities and its strategic role as a major trading, manufacturing and transportation corridor.
According to her, sustained construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure would progressively improve connectivity, reduce transportation bottlenecks, facilitate the movement of people and goods and strengthen economic activities across different parts of the country.
She said infrastructure development should not be viewed merely as the construction of physical assets but as an economic intervention capable of opening up communities, reducing logistics costs, stimulating investment, creating jobs and improving access to markets.
The Federal Government has identified transportation infrastructure, including major highways, bridges and rail projects, as part of its broader strategy for improving connectivity and supporting economic growth. It has also listed the Second Niger Bridge Access Road among ongoing infrastructure projects.
Ekwunife further acknowledged ongoing efforts to modernise public services, including improvements in passport administration and identity-management systems, stressing that efficient, transparent and accessible government services are essential to a modern economy.
She said the quality of public institutions matters as much as physical infrastructure because citizens and businesses require efficient government agencies to obtain essential services, comply with regulations and participate effectively in the economy.
The senator also pointed to increased financial resources available to state governments through federally distributed revenues, noting that greater fiscal space provides states with an opportunity to address pressing economic and infrastructural needs, meet their obligations and undertake projects capable of directly improving citizens’ welfare.
She, however, urged state governments to ensure that increased revenues translate into visible development at the grassroots rather than merely higher government expenditure.
According to her, states must deploy available resources more deliberately to roads, healthcare, education, water supply, security, environmental management, agriculture, job creation and other sectors that have a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens.
She maintained that fiscal resources should be judged ultimately by the quality of services and infrastructure they deliver to the people.
Ekwunife cautioned against creating the impression that Nigeria’s economic and social challenges had disappeared, stressing that meaningful national transformation was a gradual process requiring sustained reforms, responsible leadership, institutional strengthening, patience and collective effort.
She said the current reform process must remain focused on the real concerns confronting Nigerians, particularly the cost of living, employment, food security, access to education, healthcare, energy, transportation and opportunities for young people.
While expressing optimism about the direction of the economy, she stressed that economic indicators must ultimately translate into improved household welfare.
“The true measure of economic renewal is not simply what happens to macroeconomic indicators, but what Nigerians experience in their homes, businesses, farms, schools and communities,” she said.
Ekwunife also called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for protecting public infrastructure and other national assets, urging citizens and communities to remain vigilant and promptly alert the appropriate authorities whenever they observe attempts to vandalise or remove components of strategic infrastructure.
She expressed particular concern over the vandalism of bridges and other critical infrastructure, noting that the destruction of public assets ultimately imposes additional costs on taxpayers and undermines the development that citizens expect from government.
She urged Nigerians to recognise that roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure, public buildings, water facilities and other government installations are public assets belonging to the people and serving the collective interest.
She stressed that citizens must therefore complement government’s responsibility to provide infrastructure by helping to protect and preserve what has already been provided.
Ekwunife commended civil servants, security personnel, teachers, healthcare professionals, farmers, entrepreneurs, transport workers, artisans, business owners and other Nigerians whose daily efforts continue to sustain the country despite prevailing economic pressures.
She particularly encouraged young Nigerians and women to remain actively engaged in the country’s economic, social and democratic development, urging them to pursue productive enterprise, acquire relevant skills, embrace innovation, demand accountability and participate meaningfully in processes that shape the nation’s future.
The senator maintained that Nigeria’s enormous human and natural resources, entrepreneurial spirit and youthful population provide a strong foundation for long-term growth if properly harnessed through sound policies, effective institutions, productive investments and responsible citizenship.
She said the country’s demographic strength should be converted into productive capacity through expanded access to education and skills, support for entrepreneurship, improved infrastructure, reliable energy and an enabling environment for businesses to grow.
Ekwunife expressed optimism that sustained implementation of economic reforms and continued investments in infrastructure, education and human capital could progressively deliver greater economic stability, expanded opportunities, improved public services and better living conditions for Nigerians.
She said the next phase of Nigeria’s economic journey should place greater emphasis on translating reforms into broad-based prosperity, stressing that growth must be inclusive enough to reach workers, farmers, traders, entrepreneurs, young people and vulnerable households.
She also called on political leaders at the federal, state and local government levels to strengthen coordination and ensure that national development policies produce measurable outcomes across the country.
As Nigeria marks another Independence Day, Ekwunife urged citizens to remain committed to the country’s unity, peace and development, while encouraging leaders at all levels to remain focused on policies and programmes that translate public resources into measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
She said Nigerians had every reason to continue believing in the country’s capacity to overcome its challenges, provided that government remained accountable, institutions were strengthened and citizens played their part in building a productive and responsible society.
Ekwunife wished Nigerians a peaceful Independence Day and prayed for greater stability, prosperity, security and opportunities for families and communities across the country.
She expressed confidence that with perseverance, responsible leadership, active citizenship, institutional accountability and sustained commitment to national development, Nigeria could continue to move steadily towards the country its citizens aspire to build.
