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Nigeria Must Rethink Policy Path or Risk Deeper Instability — Prof. Uba Warns
In a comprehensive policy advisory released on April 30, 2025, renowned development economist and Chairman of the ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, Professor Chiwuike Uba, has called for an urgent and strategic reordering of Nigeria’s economic priorities to avert worsening instability and accelerate inclusive growth.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Prof. Uba warned that Nigeria is at a critical crossroads, citing poor governance, spiraling debt, persistent poverty, and deepening insecurity as symptoms of systemic policy misalignment. Drawing insights from the latest Africa’s Pulse report, he noted Nigeria’s macroeconomic performance continues to underwhelm, with GDP growth lagging behind population expansion, resulting in declining per capita income.
Despite being resource-rich, Nigeria remains over-reliant on crude oil, which accounts for over 75% of foreign exchange earnings. Uba criticized the underutilization of agriculture and manufacturing due to regulatory barriers, poor infrastructure, inconsistent policies, and limited access to financing.
To reposition Nigeria for sustained prosperity, he outlined a multi-sectoral reform agenda built on key pillars:
1. Economic Diversification:
Uba advocated for climate-resilient agriculture, the creation of regional industrial hubs, and enhanced SME and tech sector support, especially in underserved regions.
2. Human Capital Development:
He proposed dedicating at least 10% of the national budget to education and 8% to healthcare. Additionally, he recommended allocating 1% of GDP annually to vocational and technical training, with centers established across all local government areas.
3. Debt Management and Revenue Expansion:
Rather than increasing borrowing, Uba urged the restructuring of existing debt, the implementation of a digital tax system to widen the tax base, and the reallocation of subsidies toward productive sectors.
4. Security Strategy Overhaul:
Highlighting the ₦40 trillion spent on defense since 2014, Uba decried the dominance of security budgets over education and health, arguing that insecurity cannot be resolved by force alone. He called for greater investment in social services, justice, and inclusive governance as preventative measures.
5. Job Creation as a National Emergency:
With unemployment at 33.3% and youth unemployment at 42%, he proposed a National Job Creation Corps to engage youth in agriculture, renewable energy, construction, and digital innovation.
6. Anti-Corruption and Governance Reforms:
Uba emphasized strengthening anti-graft institutions, implementing e-governance in procurement and budgeting, and ensuring fiscal transparency through real-time public dashboards.
He also advocated for electoral reforms that promote youth and women’s political participation through quotas and financial support.
While acknowledging the Tinubu administration’s bold steps—such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification—Uba criticized the implementation as poorly sequenced and lacking social cushioning. He argued that reforms should have been preceded by support for vulnerable sectors and clear investor confidence measures.
According to him, while these measures sent positive signals to investors and curbed arbitrage, they also triggered inflation and increased hardship due to unprepared institutional frameworks and inadequate safety nets.
He concluded with a call for a new national development compact focused not just on financial injections but on visionary leadership, policy coherence, and delivery excellence. “Nigeria doesn’t just need more money—it needs better ideas, better governance, and better delivery,” Uba stated.
Only by addressing root causes, investing in people, and building inclusive institutions, he asserted, can Nigeria chart a stable and prosperous path forward.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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