Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, declaring that the administration’s difficult policy decisions are beginning to yield positive results, particularly in foreign exchange availability, investment inflows and declining inflation.

In the same vein, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, mobilised support for Tinubu’s re-election in Imo State, declaring that the President means well for Nigeria and deserves another four years to consolidate his administration’s reforms.

Tompolo made the declaration on Tuesday at the inauguration of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement in Imo, where he donated 30 vehicles to facilitate grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election.

Adesina, after meeting Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, yesterday, told journalists that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the harmonisation of foreign exchange windows were necessary reforms that had begun to restore international confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

The former AfDB chief, who recently completed his 10-year tenure at the continental financial institution, also said he was ready to support the President’s economic transformation agenda in any capacity, stressing that he was not seeking political appointment.

Commending the administration’s economic policies, Adesina said, “I used the opportunity to also commend him on the reforms that he’s been doing, both in terms of the macroeconomic reforms with the fuel subsidy and also the harmonisation of the exchange rate windows. These are very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruit, quite some fruit.

“If you look at it, you have a lot more FX available today. Many portfolio investors are coming into the country. You have inflation trending downwards. Prices are still a bit high, but inflation is trending downwards.”

He noted that Nigeria’s improving international perception was also reflected in the assessments of global credit rating agencies, some of which had assigned the country stable and positive outlooks.

Adesina, however, stressed that economic stabilisation was only the beginning, urging sustained attention to structural transformation, accelerated growth and prosperity for Nigerians.

TOMPOLO, represented by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Limited, Kestin Pondi, said the vehicles and other resources were provided to support Governor Hope Uzodimma and the movement’s campaign activities across the state.

He described Tinubu as a courageous leader who prioritised Nigeria’s interests by embarking on economic reforms from the beginning of his administration in May 2023.

“Our President, Bola Tinubu, is a very courageous man; man who puts Nigeria first; man who loves Nigeria more than he loves himself; a man who loves Nigeria more than the office he is vying for. When he came into office, he did not do the normal calculations that politicians usually do. He came in and said that he wants to reform Nigeria,” Tompolo said.

Relaying Tompolo’s message, Pondi said the donation was aimed at strengthening the movement’s capacity to mobilise voters for the President across the state.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Asuku, urged Nigerians to remain patient with the administration, arguing that the economic difficulties associated with its reforms would give way to long-term benefits.

Asuku said Tinubu had laid a foundation for economic development in the past three and a half years and should be allowed another four years to build on it.