Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, a former PDP presidential aspirant, has called on Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu, noting that he inherited a “near-bankrupt” nation. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tafawa-Balewa explained that it is particularly challenging to rescue and rebuild a nation on the brink of financial collapse.
He acknowledged that President Tinubu has much work to do in repositioning the country and addressing its numerous challenges. Tafawa-Balewa suggested that one of the key areas the president should focus on is reducing the cost of governance by cutting down the number of ministries. He emphasized that the current structure, with around 48 ministries, is too costly to maintain and recommended slimming it down.
He also urged Tinubu to strengthen his cabinet by incorporating more technocrats who can assist in realizing his developmental agenda. Tafawa-Balewa stressed the importance of improving security to enable farmers to return to their fields, which would boost food production. He also highlighted the potential of using Nigeria’s gamma radiation facility for food preservation and distribution, a solution he said has been overlooked by previous administrations.
In conclusion, he called for greater efforts to combat insecurity, including kidnappings and insurgency, to create a safer environment for economic development.
