President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration has succeeded in curbing the smuggling of Nigeria’s crude oil, describing it as one of the key milestones since assuming office amid a distressed economy.

Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerians in Saint Lucia on Thursday, President Tinubu said his government has also ended the speculative hunt for foreign exchange at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“We inherited a country that was near bankruptcy, but we have been able to rescue the economy. Nigeria has recovered. We have made the smuggling of our oil unattractive. We have stopped chasing forex papers at the Central Bank,” Tinubu stated.

The President, who met the diaspora community at the official residence of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre, and later at the Windjammer Resort, his temporary residence during the state visit, assured them that his government was committed to addressing the diplomatic and consular concerns raised by Nigerians in the Caribbean nation.

Acknowledging the challenges in national income levels, Tinubu admitted that Nigeria’s per capita income remains low but said steps are being taken to improve the economic well-being of citizens.

The engagement was facilitated by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who commended Nigerians in Saint Lucia for their contributions to their host country and urged them to stay connected to their homeland.