Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday declared that the country’s economy is on the path of growth due to the government’s policies, regardless of the challenges confronting the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
This is as he charged all Presidential aides to work towards assisting the administration to deliver on its mandate, adding, “the country is greater than all of us. I urge you, let’s work as a team and as a family.”
He listed some of the improvements recorded so far, including crude oil production hitting 1.8 million barrels per day.
Senator Shettima spoke in Abuja during a one-day retreat for presidential aides and heads of units in his office.
Addressing participants at the retreat, Shettima said, “President Bola Tinubu is determined to change the fortunes of the nation. We all want to bequeath to the younger generation a united and progressive country.
“Yes, the economy has and is experiencing challenges, but we have turned the corner. As of now, we are producing 1.8 million barrels of oil per day. The economy is on an upward trajectory, and I believe in the new year, the economy will grow in leaps and bounds.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Hassan Hadejia, said the retreat was planned to enable aides to synergize ideas with a view to ensuring a seamless execution of tasks assigned to the office of the Vice President.
He said the retreat is to enhance strategic communication in the office, streamline project funding and partnership, improve collaboration and synergy within the office, and enhance collaboration with ministries, departments, and agencies.
In the same vein, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, commended the efforts of aides in the office, especially on tasks concerning strategic communication, stressing the need for improved collaboration across the presidency.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Moddibo Umar, implored the aides to avail the system of their “knowledge and expertise, be humble, and focused on the tasks at hand,” even as he said, “We need to deliver on the difficult task ahead. The primary thing is just the work.”
Also present at the retreat were the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Mr. Olufunso Adebiyi; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Mr. Tope Fasua; senior aides in the office of the Vice President; Directors and Deputy Directors in the Office of the Vice President, among others.
