"I Made Tough Decisions So that We Could Grow.You Can’t Find a Better Partner than Nigeria," Tinubu Tells Special Envoy of Qatar, Seeks More Poverty Alleviation Support

By: Israel Adeleke, Olufemi Orunsola 

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has once again stood firm by his administration's economic reforms, saying that some of the decisions he made on assumption of office in 2023 were not to hurt Nigerians but to sustain healthy growth for the country, insisting that the State of Qatar could not find a better partner than Nigeria.

OTN News reports that the President who disclosed this in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, explained that his administration is making efforts to reform the country tax system, and that going by the experiences of the past and the need to depart from old ways, the country reforms have been hard.

The President emphasized that he made tough decisions so that Nigeria could grow, adding that Nigerians are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

OTN News further reports that Tinubu, who took over from Muhammadu Buhari about two years ago, made thus known while playing host to a special envoy from the Amir of the State of Qatar, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi at the State House in Abuja over the weekend 

According to the president, ongoing reforms to streamline the country’s tax system had made it easier for foreign investors to do business in the country.

The President said, “We are making efforts to reform our tax system. Going by the experiences of the past and the need to depart from old ways, our reforms have been hard.

“I made tough decisions so that we could grow. We are gradually seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“You can’t find a better partner than Nigeria. I always follow the global issues and your efforts. You have to do more in Nigeria to help fight poverty in the humanitarian area.

“You have done well in developing a knowledge-based economy in Qatar, but what about Nigeria?” He asked.

Tinubu believes that Nigeria’s partnership with the Arab giants could be improved by looking into food sovereignty and economic prosperity, indicating readiness of his country to build on the momentum generated by his state visit to Qatar in 2024.