The Tinubu Support Group (TSG) has urged Nigerians not to abandon the gains of the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, saying the measures have laid the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.

Director-General of TSG, Dr Umar Tanko Yakasai, made the call in a statement on Thursday reacting to the President’s Independence Day address to Nigerians.

Yakasai said Tinubu’s address provided an assessment of the difficult economic choices made by the administration and the need to sustain the reform programme beyond the 2027 general elections.

He acknowledged that the reforms had imposed hardships on households and businesses but argued that they were necessary to address longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy.

According to him, reversing the reforms could undermine the progress recorded so far and disrupt efforts to build a more productive and resilient economy.

Yakasai said the President’s argument that the reforms did not create the weaknesses in the economy but confronted them was a reminder of the conditions that necessitated the difficult decisions taken since May 2023.

He said Nigeria had for decades relied on economic arrangements that became increasingly difficult and expensive to sustain, while successive administrations deferred some of the structural problems facing the country.

The TSG chief said economic indicators highlighted by Tinubu, including economic growth of more than four per cent, improved foreign exchange stability, rebuilding of foreign reserves, increased non-oil exports and reduced oil theft, should be considered alongside ongoing efforts to reduce production and transportation costs.

He, however, said the ultimate test of the reforms would be their ability to translate economic stability into improved living conditions, more jobs, lower production costs and greater opportunities for Nigerians.

Yakasai acknowledged that many Nigerians continued to grapple with the cost of food, transportation, education, healthcare and other basic necessities, saying the administration must continue addressing those concerns as it consolidates the gains of the reforms.

He said Tinubu’s emphasis on mechanised agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, transportation, access to credit, education financing and social protection indicated a shift from economic stabilisation towards making growth more meaningful to ordinary Nigerians.

The TSG director-general said the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the direction of the economy and determine whether to sustain the reform trajectory.

“President Tinubu has been clear that the emergency treatment is over and that the foundation has been repaired. The task before us now is to build on that foundation and ensure that the benefits of economic stability reach ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

Yakasai urged Nigerians to distinguish between the difficulties associated with implementing reforms and the longer-term objective of building a productive and resilient economy.

He warned that abandoning the gains of the reforms at this stage could disrupt progress in stabilising the economy and undermine ongoing investments in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation and human capital.

“Nigerians must not abandon the gains of these reforms. We have gone through the difficult phase, and the focus now should be on consolidating the foundation that has been laid and ensuring that prosperity becomes more visible in the lives of our people,” he said.

He called on Nigerians, particularly young people and businesses, to remain engaged in the economic transformation process, saying the ultimate objective should be an economy capable of creating productive employment, supporting businesses, reducing poverty and improving living standards.

Yakasai said the President’s call for Nigerians to move forward without looking back should be understood as a commitment to consolidate the progress already made while addressing the challenges that remain.

Tinubu, in his Independence Day address, said his administration had moved from the emergency phase of economic reform towards a period focused on translating economic stability into shared prosperity.

He has similarly said in previous statements that the reforms were intended to stabilise the economy and lay a foundation for prosperity, while acknowledging that Nigerians continue to face economic hardship.